Triazole-substituted arylamides as p2x3 and p2x2/3 antagonists

ABSTRACT

Compounds of the formula I: 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein, R 1  is optionally substituted triazolyl, and R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7  and R 8  are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of using the compounds for treating diseases associated with P2X 3  and/or a P2X 2/3  receptor antagonists and methods of making the compounds.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 61/007,890, filed Dec. 17, 2007 which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

his invention pertains to compounds useful for treatment of diseasesassociated with P2X purinergic receptors, and more particularly to P2X₃and/or P2X_(2/3) antagonists usable for treatment of genitourinary,pain, inflammatory, gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases,conditions and disorders.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The urinary bladder is responsible for two important physiologicalfunctions: urine storage and urine emptying. This process involves twomain steps: (1) the bladder fills progressively until the tension in itswalls rises above a threshold level; and (2) a nervous reflex, calledthe micturition reflex, occurs that empties the bladder or, if thisfails, at least causes a conscious desire to urinate. Although themicturition reflex is an autonomic spinal cord reflex, it can also beinhibited or mediated by centers in the cerebral cortex or brain.

Purines, acting via extracellular purinoreceptors, have been implicatedas having a variety of physiological and pathological roles. (See,Burnstock (1993) Drug Dev. Res. 28:195-206.) ATP, and to a lesserextent, adenosine, can stimulate sensory nerve endings resulting inintense pain and a pronounced increase in sensory nerve discharge. ATPreceptors have been classified into two major families, the P2Y- andP2X-purinoreceptors, on the basis of molecular structure, transductionmechanisms, and pharmacological characterization. TheP2Y-purinoreceptors are G-protein coupled receptors, while theP2X-purinoreceptors are a family of ATP-gated cation channels.Purinergic receptors, in particular, P2X receptors, are known to formhomomultimers or heteromultimers. To date, cDNAs for several P2Xreceptors subtypes have been cloned, including: six homomeric receptors,P2X₁; P2X₂; P2X₃; P2X₄; P2X₅; and P2X₇; and three heteromeric receptorsP2X_(2/3), P2X_(4/6), P2X_(1/5) (See, e.g., Chen, et al. (1995) Nature377:428-431; Lewis, et al. (1995) Nature 377:432-435; and Burnstock(1997) Neurophamacol. 36:1127-1139). The structure and chromosomalmapping of mouse genomic P2X₃ receptor subunit has also been described(Souslova, et al. (1997) Gene 195:101-111). In vitro, co-expression ofP2X₂ and P2X₃ receptor subunits is necessary to produce ATP-gatedcurrents with the properties seen in some sensory neurons (Lewis, et al.(1995) Nature 377:432-435).

P2X receptor subunits are found on afferents in rodent and human bladderurothelium. Data exists suggesting that ATP may be released fromepithelial/endothelial cells of the urinary bladder or other holloworgans as a result of distention (Burnstock (1999) J. Anatomy194:335-342; and Ferguson et al. (1997) J. Physiol. 505:503-511). ATPreleased in this manner may serve a role in conveying information tosensory neurons located in subepithelial components, e.g., suburotheliallamina propria (Namasivayam, et al. (1999) BJU Intl. 84:854-860). TheP2X receptors have been studied in a number of neurons, includingsensory, sympathetic, parasympathetic, mesenteric, and central neurons(Zhong, et al. (1998) Br. J. Pharmacol. 125:771-781). These studiesindicate that purinergic receptors play a role in afferentneurotransmission from the bladder, and that modulators of P2X receptorsare potentially useful in the treatment of bladder disorders and othergenitourinary diseases or conditions.

Recent evidence also suggests a role of endogenous ATP and purinergicreceptors in nociceptive responses in mice (Tsuda, et al. (1999) Br. J.Pharmacol. 128:1497-1504). ATP-induced activation of P2X receptors ondorsal root ganglion nerve terminals in the spinal cord has been shownto stimulate release of glutamate, a key neurotransmitter involved innociceptive signaling (Gu and MacDermott, Nature 389:749-753 (1997)).P2X₃ receptors have been identified on nociceptive neurons in the toothpulp (Cook et al., Nature 387:505-508 (1997)). ATP released from damagedcells may thus lead to pain by activating P2X₃ and/or P2X_(2/3)containing receptors on nociceptive sensory nerve endings. This isconsistent with the induction of pain by intradermally applied ATP inthe human blister-base model (Bleehen, Br J Pharmacol 62:573-577(1978)). P2X antagonists have been shown to be analgesic in animalmodels (Driessen and Starke, Naunyn Schmiedebergs Arch Pharmacol350:618-625 (1994)). This evidence suggests that P2X₂ and P2X₃ areinvolved in nociception, and that modulators of P2X receptors arepotentially useful as analgesics.

Other researchers have shown that P2X₃ receptors are expressed in humancolon, and are expressed at higher levels in inflamed colon than innormal colon (Y. Yiangou et al, Neurogastroenterol Mot (2001)13:365-69). Other researchers have implicated the P2X₃ receptor indetection of distension or intraluminal pressure in the intestine, andinitiation of reflex contractions (X. Bian et al., J Physiol (2003)551.1:309-22), and have linked this to colitis (G. Wynn et al., Am JPhysiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol (2004) 287:G647-57).

Inge Brouns et al. (Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol (2000) 23:52-61) foundthat P2X₃ receptors are expressed in pulmonary neuroepithelial bodies(NEBs), implicating the receptor in pain transmission in the lung. Morerecently, others have implicated P2X₂ and P2X₃ receptors in pO₂detection in pulmonary NEBs (W. Rong et al., J Neurosci (2003)23(36):11315-21).

There is accordingly a need for compounds that act as modulators of P2Xreceptors, including antagonists of P2X₃ and P2X_(2/3) receptors, aswell as a need for methods of treating diseases, conditions anddisorders mediated by P2X₃ and/or P2X_(2/3) receptors. The presentinvention satisfies these needs as well as others.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides compounds of the formula I:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,wherein:

R¹ is optionally substituted triazolyl;

R² is optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted pyridinyl,optionally substituted pyrimidinyl, optionally substituted pyridazinylor optionally substituted thiophenyl;

R³ is:

-   -   hydrogen;    -   C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl; or    -   cyano;

R⁴ is:

-   -   hydrogen;    -   C₁₋₆alkyl; or    -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl;

or R³ and R⁴ together with the atom to which they are attached may forma C₃₋₆ carbocyclic ring;

R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   halo-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   N—C₁₋₆alkylamino;    -   N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino;    -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyl;    -   aryl;    -   heteroaryl;    -   heterocyclyl;    -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   heteroaryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   aryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   aryloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   —(CR^(a)R^(b))_(m)—C(O)—R⁸ wherein:        -   m is 0 or 1;        -   R^(a) and R^(b) each independently is:            -   hydrogen; or            -   C₁₋₆alkyl; and        -   R⁸ is:            -   hydrogen;            -   C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   hetero-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   C₃₋₇ cyclo alkyl;            -   aryl;            -   heteroaryl;            -   heterocyclyl;            -   C₃₋₇ cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   aryl-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   heteroaryl-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   C₃₋₇ cycloalkyloxy;            -   aryloxy;            -   heteroaryloxy;            -   heterocyclyloxy;            -   C₃₋₇ cycloalkyloxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   aryloxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   heteroaryloxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl;            -   heterocyclyloxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl; or            -   —NR⁹R¹⁰, wherein:                -   R⁹ is:                -    hydrogen; or                -    C₁₋₆ alkyl; and                -   R₁₀ is:                -    hydrogen;                -    C₁₋₆ alkyl;                -    hetero-C₁₋₆ alkyl;                -    C₃₋₇ cyclo alkyl;                -    aryl;                -    heteroaryl;                -    heterocyclyl;                -    C₃₋₇cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;                -    aryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;                -    heteroaryl-C₁₋₆alkyl; or                -    heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

or R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached may forma C₃₋₆ carbocyclic ring that is optionally substituted with hydroxy;

or R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached may forma C₄₋₆ heterocyclic ring containing one or two heteroatoms eachindependently selected from O, N and S;

or R³, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached mayform a six-membered heteroaryl containing one or two nitrogen atoms, andwhich is optionally substituted with halo, amino or C₁₋₆alkyl; and

R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ each independently is:

-   -   hydrogen;    -   C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   C₁₋₆alkyloxy;    -   halo;    -   C₁₋₆haloalkyl; or    -   cyano.

The invention also provides and pharmaceutical compositions comprisingthe compounds, methods of using the compounds, and methods of preparingthe compounds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

Unless otherwise stated, the following terms used in this Application,including the specification and claims, have the definitions givenbelow. It must be noted that, as used in the specification and theappended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an,” and “the” include pluralreferents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

“Agonist” refers to a compound that enhances the activity of anothercompound or receptor site.

“Alkyl” means the monovalent linear or branched saturated hydrocarbonmoiety, consisting solely of carbon and hydrogen atoms, having from oneto twelve carbon atoms. “Lower alkyl” refers to an alkyl group of one tosix carbon atoms, i.e. C₁-C₆alkyl. Examples of alkyl groups include, butare not limited to, methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl,sec-butyl, tert-butyl, pentyl, n-hexyl, octyl, dodecyl, and the like.

“Alkenyl” means a linear monovalent hydrocarbon radical of two to sixcarbon atoms or a branched monovalent hydrocarbon radical of three tosix carbon atoms, containing at least one double bond, e.g., ethenyl,propenyl, and the like.

“Alkynyl” means a linear monovalent hydrocarbon radical of two to sixcarbon atoms or a branched monovalent hydrocarbon radical of three tosix carbon atoms, containing at least one triple bond, e.g., ethynyl,propynyl, and the like.

“Alkylene” means a linear saturated divalent hydrocarbon radical of oneto six carbon atoms or a branched saturated divalent hydrocarbon radicalof three to six carbon atoms, e.g., methylene, ethylene,2,2-dimethylethylene, propylene, 2-methylpropylene, butylene, pentylene,and the like.

“Alkoxy” and “alkyloxy”, which may be used interchangeably, mean amoiety of the formula —OR, wherein R is an alkyl moiety as definedherein. Examples of alkoxy moieties include, but are not limited to,methoxy, ethoxy, isopropoxy, and the like.

“Alkoxyalkyl” means a moiety of the formula R^(a)—O—R^(b)—, where R^(a)is alkyl and R^(b) is alkylene as defined herein. Exemplary alkoxyalkylgroups include, by way of example, 2-methoxyethyl, 3-methoxypropyl,1-methyl-2-methoxyethyl, 1-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-methoxypropyl, and1-(2-methoxyethyl)-3-methoxypropyl.

“Alkylcarbonyl” means a moiety of the formula —R′—R″, where R′ is oxoand R″ is alkyl as defined herein.

“Alkylsulfonyl” means a moiety of the formula —R′—R″, where R′ is —SO₂—and R″ is alkyl as defined herein.

Alkylsulfonylalkyl means a moiety of the formula —R′—R″—R′″ where whereR′ is alkylene, R″ is —SO₂— and R′″ is alkyl as defined herein.

Amino means a moiety of the formula —NRR′ wherein R and R′ eachindependently is hydrogen or alkyl as defined herein. “Amino thusincludes “alkylamino (where one of R and R′ is alkyl and the other ishydrogen) and “dialkylamino (where R and R′ are both alkyl.

“Alkoxyamino” means a moiety of the formula —NR—OR′ wherein R ishydrogen or alkyl and R′ is alkyl as defined herein.

“Alkylsulfanyl” means a moiety of the formula —SR wherein R is alkyl asdefined herein.

“Aminoalkyl” means a group —R—R′ wherein R′ is amino and R is alkyleneas defined herein. “Aminoalkyl” includes aminomethyl, aminoethyl,1-aminopropyl, 2-aminopropyl, and the like. The amino moiety of“aminoalkyl” may be substituted once or twice with alkyl to provide“alkylaminoalkyl” and “dialkylaminoalkyl” respectively.

“Alkylaminoalkyl” includes methylaminomethyl, methylaminoethyl,methylaminopropyl, ethylaminoethyl and the like. “Dialkylaminoalkyl”includes dimethylaminomethyl, dimethylaminoethyl, dimethylaminopropyl,N-methyl-N-ethylaminoethyl, and the like.

“Aminoalkoxy” means a group —OR—R′ wherein R′ is amino and R is alkyleneas defined herein.

“Alkylsulfonylamido” means a moiety of the formula —NR′SO₂—R wherein Ris alkyl and R′ is hydrogen or alkyl.

“Aminocarbonyloxyalkyl” or “carbamylalkyl” means a group of the formula—R—O—C(O)—NR′R″ wherein R is alkylene and R′, R″ each independently ishydrogen or alkyl as defined herein.

“Alkynylalkoxy” means a group of the formula —O—R—R′ wherein R isalkylene and R′ is alkynyl as defined herein.

“Antagonist” refers to a compound that diminishes or prevents the actionof another compound or receptor site.

“Aryl” means a monovalent cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon moiety consistingof a mono-, bi- or tricyclic aromatic ring. The aryl group can beoptionally substituted as defined herein. Examples of aryl moietiesinclude, but are not limited to, phenyl, naphthyl, phenanthryl,fluorenyl, indenyl, pentalenyl, azulenyl, oxydiphenyl, biphenyl,methylenediphenyl, aminodiphenyl, diphenylsulfidyl, diphenylsulfonyl,diphenylisopropylidenyl, benzodioxanyl, benzofuranyl, benzodioxylyl,benzopyranyl, benzoxazinyl, benzoxazinonyl, benzopiperadinyl,benzopiperazinyl, benzopyrrolidinyl, benzomorpholinyl,methylenedioxyphenyl, ethylenedioxyphenyl, and the like, includingpartially hydrogenated derivatives thereof, each being optionallysubstituted.

“Arylalkyl” and “Aralkyl”, which may be used interchangeably, mean aradical-R^(a)R^(b) where R^(a) is an alkylene group and R^(b) is an arylgroup as defined herein; e.g., phenylalkyls such as benzyl, phenylethyl,3-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-methylpentyl, and the like are examples ofarylalkyl.

Arylsulfonyl means a group of the formula —SO₂—R wherein R is aryl asdefined herein.

“Aryloxy” means a group of the formula —O—R wherein R is aryl as definedherein.

“Aralkyloxy” means a group of the formula —O—R—R″ wherein R is alkyleneand R′ is aryl as defined herein.

“Cyanoalkyl” “means a moiety of the formula —R′—R″, where R′ is alkyleneas defined herein and R″ is cyano or nitrile.

“Cycloalkyl” means a monovalent saturated carbocyclic moiety consistingof mono- or bicyclic rings. Cycloalkyl can optionally be substitutedwith one or more substituents, wherein each substituent is independentlyhydroxy, alkyl, alkoxy, halo, haloalkyl, amino, monoalkylamino, ordialkylamino, unless otherwise specifically indicated. Examples ofcycloalkyl moieties include, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl,cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl, cyclohexyl, cycloheptyl, and the like,including partially unsaturated derivatives thereof.

“Cycloalkylalkyl” means a moiety of the formula —R′—R″, where R′ isalkylene and R″ is cycloalkyl as defined herein.

“Heteroalkyl” means an alkyl radical as defined herein wherein one, twoor three hydrogen atoms have been replaced with a substituentindependently selected from the group consisting of −OR^(a),—NR^(b)R^(c), and —S(O)_(n)R^(d) (where n is an integer from 0 to 2),with the understanding that the point of attachment of the heteroalkylradical is through a carbon atom, wherein R^(a) is hydrogen, acyl,alkyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylalkyl; R^(b) and R^(c) are independentlyof each other hydrogen, acyl, alkyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylalkyl; andwhen n is 0, R^(d) is hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, or cycloalkylalkyl,and when n is 1 or 2, R^(d) is alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl,amino, acylamino, monoalkylamino, or dialkylamino. Representativeexamples include, but are not limited to, 2-hydroxyethyl,3-hydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylethyl, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl,1-hydroxymethylethyl, 3-hydroxybutyl, 2,3-dihydroxybutyl,2-hydroxy-1-methylpropyl, 2-aminoethyl, 3-aminopropyl,2-methylsulfonylethyl, aminosulfonylmethyl, aminosulfonylethyl,aminosulfonylpropyl, methylaminosulfonylmethyl,methylaminosulfonylethyl, methylaminosulfonylpropyl, and the like.

“Heteroaryl” means a monocyclic or bicyclic radical of 5 to 12 ringatoms having at least one aromatic ring containing one, two, or threering heteroatoms selected from N, O, or S, the remaining ring atomsbeing C, with the understanding that the attachment point of theheteroaryl radical will be on an aromatic ring. The heteroaryl ring maybe optionally substituted as defined herein. Examples of heteroarylmoieties include, but are not limited to, optionally substitutedimidazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, thiazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxadiazolyl,thiadiazolyl, pyrazinyl, thienyl, benzothienyl, thiophenyl, furanyl,pyranyl, pyridyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, pyrimidyl, quinolinyl,isoquinolinyl, benzofuryl, benzothiophenyl, benzothiopyranyl,benzimidazolyl, benzooxazolyl, benzooxadiazolyl, benzothiazolyl,benzothiadiazolyl, benzopyranyl, indolyl, isoindolyl, triazolyl,triazinyl, quinoxalinyl, purinyl, quinazolinyl, quinolizinyl,naphthyridinyl, pteridinyl, carbazolyl, azepinyl, diazepinyl, acridinyland the like, including partially hydrogenated derivatives thereof, eachoptionally substituted.

“Heteroarylalkyl” or “heteroaralkyl” means a group of the formula —R—R′wherein R is alkylene and R′ is heteroaryl as defined herein.

Heteroarylsulfonyl means a group of the formula —SO₂—R wherein R isheteroaryl as defined herein.

“Heteroaryloxy” means a group of the formula —O—R wherein R isheteroaryl as defined herein.

“Heteroaralkyloxy” means a group of the formula —O—R—R″ wherein R isalkylene and R′ is heteroaryl as defined herein.

The terms “halo”, “halogen” and “halide”, which may be usedinterchangeably, refer to a substituent fluoro, chloro, bromo, or iodo.

“Haloalkyl” means alkyl as defined herein in which one or more hydrogenhas been replaced with same or different halogen. Exemplary haloalkylsinclude —CH₂Cl, —CH₂CF₃, —CH₂CCl₃, perfluoroalkyl (e.g., —CF₃), and thelike.

“Haloalkoxy” means a moiety of the formula —OR, wherein R is a haloalkylmoiety as defined herein. An exemplary haloalkoxy is difluoromethoxy.

“Heterocycloamino” means a saturated ring wherein at least one ring atomis N, NH or N-alkyl and the remaining ring atoms form an alkylene group.

“Heterocyclyl” means a monovalent saturated moiety, consisting of one tothree rings, incorporating one, two, or three or four heteroatoms(chosen from nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur). The heterocyclyl ring may beoptionally substituted as defined herein. Examples of heterocyclylmoieties include, but are not limited to, optionally substitutedpiperidinyl, piperazinyl, homopiperazinyl, azepinyl, pyrrolidinyl,pyrazolidinyl, imidazolinyl, imidazolidinyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl,pyrimidinyl, oxazolidinyl, isoxazolidinyl, morpholinyl, thiazolidinyl,isothiazolidinyl, quinuclidinyl, quinolinyl, isoquinolinyl,benzimidazolyl, thiadiazolylidinyl, benzothiazolidinyl,benzoazolylidinyl, dihydrofuryl, tetrahydrofuryl, dihydropyranyl,tetrahydropyranyl, thiamorpholinyl, thiamorpholinylsulfoxide,thiamorpholinylsulfone, dihydroquinolinyl, dihydrisoquinolinyl,tetrahydroquinolinyl, tetrahydrisoquinolinyl, and the like.

“Heterocyclylalkyl” means a moiety of the formula —R—R′ wherein R isalkylene and R′ is heterocyclyl as defined herein.

“Heterocyclyloxy” means a moiety of the formula —OR wherein R isheterocyclyl as defined herein.

“Heterocyclylalkoxy” means a moiety of the formula —OR—R′ wherein R isalkylene and R′ is heterocyclyl as defined herein.

“Hydroxyalkoxy” means a moiety of the formula —OR wherein R ishydroxyalkyl as defined herein.

“Hydroxyalkylamino” means a moiety of the formula —NR—R′ wherein R ishydrogen or alkyl and R′ is hydroxyalkyl as defined herein.

“Hydroxyalkylaminoalkyl” means a moiety of the formula —R—NR′—R″ whereinR is alkylene, R′ is hydrogen or alkyl, and R″ is hydroxyalkyl asdefined herein.

“Hydroxycarbonylalkyl” or “carboxyalkyl” means a group of the formula—R—(CO)—OH where R is alkylene as defined herein.

“Hydroxyalkyloxycarbonylalkyl” or “hydroxyalkoxycarbonylalkyl” means agroup of the formula —R—C(O)—O—R—OH wherein each R is alkylene and maybe the same or different.

“Hydroxyalkyl” means an alkyl moiety as defined herein, substituted withone or more, preferably one, two or three hydroxy groups, provided thatthe same carbon atom does not carry more than one hydroxy group.Representative examples include, but are not limited to, hydroxymethyl,2-hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl, 3-hydroxypropyl,1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methylpropyl, 2-hydroxybutyl, 3-hydroxybutyl,4-hydroxybutyl, 2,3-dihydroxypropyl, 2-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylethyl,2,3-dihydroxybutyl, 3,4-dihydroxybutyl and2-(hydroxymethyl)-3-hydroxypropyl

“Hydroxycycloalkyl” means a cycloalkyl moiety as defined herein whereinone, two or three hydrogen atoms in the cycloalkyl radical have beenreplaced with a hydroxy substituent. Representative examples include,but are not limited to, 2-, 3-, or 4-hydroxycyclohexyl, and the like.

“Urea” or “ureido” means a group of the formula —NR′—C(O)—NR″R′″ whereinR′, R″ and R′″ each independently is hydrogen or alkyl.

“Carbamate” means a group of the formula —O—C(O)—NR′R″ wherein R′ and R″each independently is hydrogen or alkyl.

“Carboxy” means a group of the formula —O—C(O)—OH.

“Sulfonamido” means a group of the formula —SO₂—NR′R″ wherein R′, R″ andR′″ each independently is hydrogen or alkyl.

“Optionally substituted”, when used in association with “aryl”, phenyl”,“heteroaryl” “cycloalkyl” or “heterocyclyl”, means an aryl, phenyl,heteroaryl, cycloalkyl or heterocyclyl which is optionally substitutedindependently with one to four substituents, preferably one or twosubstituents selected from alkyl, cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl,heteroalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, halo, nitro, cyano, hydroxy, alkoxy, amino,acylamino, mono-alkylamino, di-alkylamino, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy,heteroalkyl, —COR, —SO₂R (where R is hydrogen, alkyl, phenyl orphenylalkyl), —(CR′R″)_(n)—COOR (where n is an integer from 0 to 5, R′and R″ are independently hydrogen or alkyl, and R is hydrogen, alkyl,cycloalkyl, cycloalkylalkyl, phenyl or phenylalkyl), or—(CR′R″)_(n)—CONR^(a)R^(b) (where n is an integer from 0 to 5, R′ and R″are independently hydrogen or alkyl, and R^(a) and R^(b) are,independently of each other, hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl,cycloalkylalkyl, phenyl or phenylalkyl). Certain preferred optionalsubstituents for “aryl”, phenyl”, “heteroaryl” “cycloalkyl” or“heterocyclyl” include alkyl, halo, haloalkyl, alkoxy, cyano, amino andalkylsulfonyl. More preferred substituents are methyl, fluoro, chloro,trifluoromethyl, methoxy, amino and methanesulfonyl.

“Leaving group” means the group with the meaning conventionallyassociated with it in synthetic organic chemistry, i.e., an atom orgroup displaceable under substitution reaction conditions. Examples ofleaving groups include, but are not limited to, halogen, alkane- orarylenesulfonyloxy, such as methanesulfonyloxy, ethanesulfonyloxy,thiomethyl, benzenesulfonyloxy, tosyloxy, and thienyloxy,dihalophosphinoyloxy, optionally substituted benzyloxy, isopropyloxy,acyloxy, and the like.

“Modulator” means a molecule that interacts with a target. Theinteractions include, but are not limited to, agonist, antagonist, andthe like, as defined herein.

“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described eventor circumstance may but need not occur, and that the descriptionincludes instances where the event or circumstance occurs and instancesin which it does not.

“Disease” and “Disease state” means any disease, condition, symptom,disorder or indication.

“Inert organic solvent” or “inert solvent” means the solvent is inertunder the conditions of the reaction being described in conjunctiontherewith, including for example, benzene, toluene, acetonitrile,tetrahydrofuran, N,N-dimethylformamide, chloroform, methylene chlorideor dichloromethane, dichloroethane, diethyl ether, ethyl acetate,acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, ethanol, propanol, isopropanol,tert-butanol, dioxane, pyridine, and the like. Unless specified to thecontrary, the solvents used in the reactions of the present inventionare inert solvents.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable” means that which is useful in preparing apharmaceutical composition that is generally safe, non-toxic, andneither biologically nor otherwise undesirable and includes that whichis acceptable for veterinary as well as human pharmaceutical use.

“Pharmaceutically acceptable salts” of a compound means salts that arepharmaceutically acceptable, as defined herein, and that possess thedesired pharmacological activity of the parent compound. Such saltsinclude:

acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids such as hydrochloricacid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, phosphoric acid, andthe like; or formed with organic acids such as acetic acid,benzenesulfonic acid, benzoic, camphorsulfonic acid, citric acid,ethanesulfonic acid, fumaric acid, glucoheptonic acid, gluconic acid,glutamic acid, glycolic acid, hydroxynaphtoic acid,2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, lactic acid, maleic acid, malic acid,malonic acid, mandelic acid, methanesulfonic acid, muconic acid,2-naphthalenesulfonic acid, propionic acid, salicylic acid, succinicacid, tartaric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, trimethylacetic acid, andthe like; or

salts formed when an acidic proton present in the parent compound eitheris replaced by a metal ion, e.g., an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earthion, or an aluminum ion; or coordinates with an organic or inorganicbase. Acceptable organic bases include diethanolamine, ethanolamine,N-methylglucamine, triethanolamine, tromethamine, and the like.Acceptable inorganic bases include aluminum hydroxide, calciumhydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide.

The preferred pharmaceutically acceptable salts are the salts formedfrom acetic acid, hydrochloric acid, sulphuric acid, methanesulfonicacid, maleic acid, phosphoric acid, tartaric acid, citric acid, sodium,potassium, calcium, zinc, and magnesium.

It should be understood that all references to pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts include solvent addition forms (solvates) or crystalforms (polymorphs) as defined herein, of the same acid addition salt.

“Protective group” or “protecting group” means the group whichselectively blocks one reactive site in a multifunctional compound suchthat a chemical reaction can be carried out selectively at anotherunprotected reactive site in the meaning conventionally associated withit in synthetic chemistry. Certain processes of this invention rely uponthe protective groups to block reactive nitrogen and/or oxygen atomspresent in the reactants. For example, the terms “amino-protectinggroup” and “nitrogen protecting group” are used interchangeably hereinand refer to those organic groups intended to protect the nitrogen atomagainst undesirable reactions during synthetic procedures. Exemplarynitrogen protecting groups include, but are not limited to,trifluoroacetyl, acetamido, benzyl (Bn), benzyloxycarbonyl(carbobenzyloxy, CBZ), p-methoxybenzyloxycarbonyl,p-nitrobenzyloxycarbonyl, tert-butoxycarbonyl (BOC), and the like. Theartisan in the art will know how to chose a group for the ease ofremoval and for the ability to withstand the following reactions.

“Solvates” means solvent additions forms that contain eitherstoichiometric or non stoichiometric amounts of solvent. Some compoundshave a tendency to trap a fixed molar ratio of solvent molecules in thecrystalline solid state, thus forming a solvate. If the solvent is waterthe solvate formed is a hydrate, when the solvent is alcohol, thesolvate formed is an alcoholate. Hydrates are formed by the combinationof one or more molecules of water with one of the substances in whichthe water retains its molecular state as H₂O, such combination beingable to form one or more hydrate.

“Subject” means mammals and non-mammals. Mammals means any member of themammalia class including, but not limited to, humans; non-human primatessuch as chimpanzees and other apes and monkey species; farm animals suchas cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and swine; domestic animals such asrabbits, dogs, and cats; laboratory animals including rodents, such asrats, mice, and guinea pigs; and the like. Examples of non-mammalsinclude, but are not limited to, birds, and the like. The term “subject”does not denote a particular age or sex.

“Disorders of the urinary tract” or “uropathy” used interchangeably with“symptoms of the urinary tract” means the pathologic changes in theurinary tract. Examples of urinary tract disorders include, but are notlimited to, incontinence, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),prostatitis, detrusor hyperreflexia, outlet obstruction, urinaryfrequency, nocturia, urinary urgency, overactive bladder, pelvichypersensitivity, urge incontinence, urethritis, prostatodynia,cystitis, idiophatic bladder hypersensitivity, and the like.

“Disease states associated with the urinary tract” or “urinary tractdisease states” or “uropathy” used interchangeably with “symptoms of theurinary tract” mean the pathologic changes in the urinary tract, ordysfunction of urinary bladder smooth muscle or its innervation causingdisordered urinary storage or voiding. Symptoms of the urinary tractinclude, but are not limited to, overactive bladder (also known asdetrusor hyperactivity), outlet obstruction, outlet insufficiency, andpelvic hypersensitivity.

“Overactive bladder” or “detrusor hyperactivity” includes, but is notlimited to, the changes symptomatically manifested as urgency,frequency, altered bladder capacity, incontinence, micturitionthreshold, unstable bladder contractions, sphincteric spasticity,detrusor hyperreflexia (neurogenic bladder), detrusor instability, andthe like.

“Outlet obstruction” includes, but is not limited to, benign prostatichypertrophy (BPH), urethral stricture disease, tumors, low flow rates,difficulty in initiating urination, urgency, suprapubic pain, and thelike.

“Outlet insufficiency” includes, but is not limited to, urethralhypermobility, intrinsic sphincteric deficiency, mixed incontinence,stress incontinence, and the like.

“Pelvic Hypersensitivity” includes, but is not limited to, pelvic pain,interstitial (cell) cystitis, prostatodynia, prostatitis, vulvadynia,urethritis, orchidalgia, overactive bladder, and the like.

“Respiratory disorder” refers to, without limitation, chronicobstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchospasm, and thelike.

“Gastrointestinal disorder” (“GI disorder”) refers to, withoutlimitation, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Inflammatory Bowel Disease(IBD), biliary colic and other biliary disorders, renal colic,diarrhea-dominant IBS, pain associated with GI distension, and the like.

“Pain” includes, without limitation, inflammatory pain; surgical pain;visceral pain; dental pain; premenstrual pain; central pain; pain due toburns; migraine or cluster headaches; nerve injury; neuritis;neuralgias; poisoning; ischemic injury; interstitial cystitis; cancerpain; viral, parasitic or bacterial infection; post-traumatic injury; orpain associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

“Therapeutically effective amount” means an amount of a compound that,when administered to a subject for treating a disease state, issufficient to effect such treatment for the disease state. The“therapeutically effective amount” will vary depending on the compound,disease state being treated, the severity or the disease treated, theage and relative health of the subject, the route and form ofadministration, the judgment of the attending medical or veterinarypractitioner, and other factors.

The terms “those defined above” and “those defined herein” whenreferring to a variable incorporates by reference the broad definitionof the variable as well as preferred, more preferred and most preferreddefinitions, if any.

“Treating” or “treatment” of a disease state includes:

-   -   (i) preventing the disease state, i.e. causing the clinical        symptoms of the disease state not to develop in a subject that        may be exposed to or predisposed to the disease state, but does        not yet experience or display symptoms of the disease state.    -   (ii) inhibiting the disease state, i.e., arresting the        development of the disease state or its clinical symptoms, or    -   (iii) relieving the disease state, i.e., causing temporary or        permanent regression of the disease state or its clinical        symptoms.

The terms “treating”, “contacting” and “reacting” when referring to achemical reaction means adding or mixing two or more reagents underappropriate conditions to produce the indicated and/or the desiredproduct. It should be appreciated that the reaction which produces theindicated and/or the desired product may not necessarily result directlyfrom the combination of two reagents which were initially added, i.e.,there may be one or more intermediates which are produced in the mixturewhich ultimately leads to the formation of the indicated and/or thedesired product.

Nomenclature and Structures

In general, the nomenclature used in this Application is based onAUTONOM™ v.4.0, a Beilstein Institute computerized system for thegeneration of IUPAC systematic nomenclature. Chemical structures shownherein were prepared using ISIS® version 2.2. Any open valency appearingon a carbon, oxygen sulfur or nitrogen atom in the structures hereinindicates the presence of a hydrogen atom unless indicated otherwise.Where a nitrogen-containing heteroaryl ring is shown with an openvalency on a nitrogen atom, and variables such as R^(a), R^(b) or R^(c)are shown on the heteroaryl ring, such variables may be bound or joinedto the open valency nitrogen. Where a chiral center exists in astructure but no specific stereochemistry is shown for the chiralcenter, both enantiomers associated with the chiral center areencompassed by the structure. Where a structure shown herein may existin multiple tautomeric forms, all such tautomers are encompassed by thestructure.

All patents and publications identified herein are incorporated hereinby reference in their entirety.

Compounds of the Invention

The invention provides compounds of the formula I:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,wherein:

R¹ is optionally substituted triazolyl;

R² is optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted pyridinyl,optionally substituted pyrimidinyl, optionally substituted pyridazinylor optionally substituted thiophenyl;

R³ is:

-   -   hydrogen;    -   C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl; or    -   cyano;

R⁴ is:

-   -   hydrogen;    -   C₁₋₆alkyl; or    -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl;

or R³ and R⁴ together with the atom to which they are attached may forma C₃₋₆ carbocyclic ring;

R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   halo-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   N—C₁₋₆alkylamino;    -   N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino;    -   C₃₋₇cyclo alkyl;    -   aryl;    -   heteroaryl;    -   heterocyclyl;    -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   heteroaryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   aryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   aryloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   —(CR^(a)R^(b))_(m)—C(O)—R⁸ wherein:        -   m is 0 or 1;        -   R^(a) and R^(b) each independently is:            -   hydrogen; or            -   C₁₋₆alkyl; and        -   R⁸ is:            -   hydrogen;            -   C₁₋₆alkyl;            -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl;            -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyl;        -   aryl;        -   heteroaryl;        -   heterocyclyl;        -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;        -   aryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;        -   heteroaryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;        -   heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;        -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyloxy;        -   aryloxy;        -   heteroaryloxy;        -   heterocyclyloxy;        -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;        -   aryloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;        -   heteroaryloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;        -   heterocyclyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; or        -   —NR⁹R¹⁰, wherein:            -   R⁹ is:                -   hydrogen; or                -   C₁₋₆alkyl; and            -   R₁₀ is:                -   hydrogen;                -   C₁₋₆alkyl;                -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl;                -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyl;                -   aryl;                -   heteroaryl;                -   heterocyclyl;                -   C₃₋₇cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;                -   aryl-C₁₋₆alkyl;                -   heteroaryl-C₁₋₆alkyl; or                -   heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

or R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached may forma C₃₋₆ carbocyclic ring that is optionally substituted with hydroxy;

or R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached may forma C₄₋₆ heterocyclic ring containing one or two heteroatoms eachindependently selected from O, N and S;

or R³, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached mayform a six-membered heteroaryl containing one or two nitrogen atoms, andwhich is optionally substituted with halo, amino or C₁₋₆alkyl;

R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ each independently is:

-   -   hydrogen;    -   C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   C₁₋₆alkyloxy;    -   halo;    -   C₁₋₆haloalkyl; or    -   cyano.

In many embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl optionally substitutedonce or twice, and more preferably once, with C₁₋₆alkyl.

In many embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl substituted once withC₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted onceor twice, preferably once, with C₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl,hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, phenyl, heterocyclyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl or cyano.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl optionallysubstituted once with C₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkoxy, amino, phenyl, heterocyclyl, C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl,C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl or cyano.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl optionallysubstituted once with halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl substituted oncewith —C₁₋₆alkyl or halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl substituted oncewith hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, orN,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl optionallysubstituted once with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isopropyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropylmethyl,phenyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl,pentafluoro-ethyl, 1,1-difluoro-ethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl,1-methoxy-ethyl, 1-ethoxy-ethyl, 2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl,1-hydroxy-ethyl, isopropoxy, dimethylamino, azetidin-2-yl,1-methyl-azetidin-2-yl, 1-dimethylamino-ethyl or dimethylamino-methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl substituted oncewith C₁₋₆alkyl selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl,n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl orcyclopropylmethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is triazolyl optionallysubstituted once with halo-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from trifluoromethyl,difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl, pentafluoro-ethyl, 1,1-difluoro-ethyl or2,2-difluoroethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,3]triazolyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,3]triazol-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,3]triazol-5-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,4]triazolyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is optionally substituted[1,2,4]triazol-3-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl or cyano.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl selected fromhydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, orN,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isopropyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropylmethyl,phenyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl,pentafluoro-ethyl, 1,1-difluoro-ethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl,1-methoxy-ethyl, 1-ethoxy-ethyl, 2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl,1-hydroxy-ethyl, isopropoxy, dimethylamino, azetidin-2-yl,1-methyl-azetidin-2-yl, 1-dimethylamino-ethyl or dimethylamino-methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl or cyclopropylmethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,3]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,3]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with C₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, C₃₋6cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl or cyano.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,3]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,3]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl selected fromhydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆ alkyl, orN,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,3]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isopropyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropylmethyl,phenyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl,pentafluoro-ethyl, 1,1-difluoro-ethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl,1-methoxy-ethyl, 1-ethoxy-ethyl, 2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl,1-hydroxy-ethyl, isopropoxy, dimethylamino, azetidin-2-yl,1-methyl-azetidin-2-yl, 1-dimethylamino-ethyl or dimethylamino-methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,3]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl or cyclopropylmethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted at the 5-position with C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted at the 5-position with C₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl,hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl or cyano.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted at the 5-position with halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted at the 5-position with hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl selectedfrom hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl,or N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted at the 5-position with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl,n-butyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl,cyclopropylmethyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoro-ethyl,1,1-difluoro-ethyl, 1-methoxy-ethyl, 1-ethoxy-ethyl,2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl, 1-hydroxy-ethyl, or dimethylamino-methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yloptionally substituted at the 5-position with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl,isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl orcyclopropylmethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is phenyl substituted once ortwice independently with halo or methyl.

In many embodiments of formula I, R² is phenyl substituted at the4-position with methyl or halo and optionally substituted at the 2- and6-positions with halo.

In many embodiments of formula I, R² is phenyl substituted at the4-position with methyl or halo and optionally substituted at the2-position with halo.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl,2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, 2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl,4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl, 2,4-dichloro-phenyl, 2,4-difluoro-phenyl, or2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl or4-chloro-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 2,4-dichloro-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 2,4-difluoro-phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl.

In many embodiments of formula I, R² is optionally substitutedpyridinyl. Exemplary pyridinyl include pyridin-2-yl, andpyridin-2-one-1-yl, each optionally substituted once, twice of threetimes with any of C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, halo, C₁₋₆haloalkyl,hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl or cyano. Preferred pyridyl include4-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 4-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl and4-methyl-pyridin-2-one-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin 2-yl substituted withmethyl or halo at the 5-position.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin 2-yl substituted withmethyl or halo at the 5-position and optionally substituted with halo atthe 3-position.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl,5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl,3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl or 3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is optionally substitutedpyridazinyl. In such embodiments R² may be 6-chloro-pyridazinyl or6-methyl-pyridazinyl, preferably 6-chloro-pyridazinyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is optionally substitutedthiophenyl. In such embodiments R² may be thiophen-2-yl optionallysubstituted with C₁₋₆alkyl or halo. Preferred thiophenyl include3-methyl-thiophen-2-yl, 5-methyl-thiophen-2-yl and5-chloro-thiophen-2-yl.

In many embodiments of formula I, R⁶ is hydrogen. In certain embodimentsof formula I, R⁶ may be methyl.

In many embodiments of formula I, R³ is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁴ is hydrogen.

In many embodiments of formula I, R³ is C₁₋₆alkyl. A preferred C₁₋₆alkylin such embodiments is methyl.

In many embodiments of formula I, R⁴ is C₁₋₆alkyl. A preferred C₁₋₆alkylin such embodiments is methyl.

In many embodiments of formula I, R³ is hydrogen and R⁴ is C₁₋₆alkyl,preferably methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³ and R⁴ are hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³ and R⁴ together with the atom towhich they are attached may form a C₃₋₆ carbocyclic ring.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³ and R⁴ together with the atom towhich they are attached may form a cyclopropyl group.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom towhich they are attached form a C₃₋₆ carbocyclic ring that is optionallysubstituted with hydroxy.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom towhich they are attached form a cyclopropyl group.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³ is hydrogen and R⁴ and R⁵together with the atom to which they are attached form a cyclopropylgroup.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³ is hydrogen and R⁴ and R⁵together with the atom to which they are attached form a cyclopentylgroup optionally substituted with hydroxy.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom towhich they are attached form a C₄₋₆ heterocyclic ring containing one ortwo heteroatoms each independently selected from O, N and S.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom towhich they are attached form a piperidinyl group or oxetanyl ring group.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom towhich they are attached form a piperidin-3-yl group or an oxetan-3-ylgroup.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³, R⁴ and R⁵ together with theatom to which they are attached form a six-membered heteroarylcontaining one or two nitrogen atoms, and which is optionallysubstituted with halo, amino or C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³, R⁴ and R⁵ together with theatom to which they are attached form a heteroaryl selected from2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyrimidinyl, pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl orpyridazinyl, each optionally substituted with methyl or amino.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R³, R⁴ and R⁵ together with theatom to which they are attached form a heteroaryl selected from2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyrimidin-4-yl, 2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyrimidin-4-yl,1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyrimidin-4-yl, 6-methyl-pyridin-3-yl,pyridazin-4-yl, 6-amino-pyridin-2-yl, 2-aminopyrimidin-4-yl or2-amino-pyrimidin-3-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is: C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkylsulfanyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl; amino-C₁₋₆alkyl;N—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl; N,N-di-C₁₋₆alkyl-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl;C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; optionally substituted phenyl; heteroaryl, orheterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is N—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino-C₁₋₆alkylsubstituted with halo.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is: C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; heteroaryl, or heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl. Onepreferred C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl is methoxymethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl. Onepreferred hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl is hydroxymethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is heteroaryl.

In certain embodiments where R⁵ is heteroaryl, such heteroaryl may bepyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolyl, imidazolyl,thienyl, thiazolyl, oxazolyl, isoxazolyl, triazolyl, oxadiazolyl,3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-isoxazolyl, tetrazolyl, imidazo[2,1-b]thiazolyl,imidazo[1,2-a]pyridinyl, imidazo[4,5-b]pyridinyl, and benzimidazolyl,each of which may be optionally substituted one, two or three times witha group or groups independently selected from C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy,C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, amino, N—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino, orN,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino. More preferably, such heteroarly may beoptionally substituted once or twice with a group or groupsindependently selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoro, chloro,trifluoromethyl, amino, methylamino or dimethylamino.

In certain embodiments where R⁵ is heteroaryl, such heteroaryl may bepyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolyl or thiazolyl,each of which may be optionally substituted once or twice with a groupor groups independently selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoro,chloro, amino, methylamino or dimethylamino.

In certain embodiments where R⁵ heteroaryl, such heteroaryl may bepyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, or pyrazinyl, each of which may be optionallysubstituted once or twice with a group or groups independently selectedfrom methyl, fluoro, chloro, amino, methylamino or dimethylamino.

In certain embodiments of formula I, where R⁵ is heteroaryl, suchheteroaryl may be thiophen-2-yl, pyridin-2-yl, pyridin-3-yl,pyridin-4-yl, oxazol-2-yl, pyrimidin-2-yl, pyridazin-4-yl, pyrazin-2-yl,5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl, imidazol-1-yl, pyrazol-1-yl,3,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-1-yl, 2-methyl-thiazol-4-yl,3-(2-chloro-phenyl)-[1,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl,3-(pyridin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl, pyridazin-3-yl,2-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl, thiazol-5-yl, 1-methyl-imidazol-2-yl,6-chloro-pyrimidin-4-yl, 4-ethyl-[1,2,4]-triazol-3-yl,1,3,5-trimethyl-pyrazol-4-yl, 1,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-4-yl,1,3-dimethyl-pyrazol-4-yl, 3-(2-methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl,3-(pyridin-3-yl-[1,2,4]-oxadiazol-5-yl, tetrazol-5-yl, pyrazol-3-yl,4-amino-2-methyl-pyrimidin-5-yl, 2-amino-pyrimidin-4-yl,6-methoxy-pyridazin-3-yl, 3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-isoxazol-5-yl,3-methyl-thiophen-2-yl, 5-methyl-[1,3,4]-oxadiazol-2-yl,4-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl, 3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl,1-methyl-pyrazol-3-yl, 3-methyl-pyrazol-1-yl,5-methyl-3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl,5-cyclopropyl-3-trifluoromethyl-pyrazol-1-yl,imidazo[2,1-b]-thiazol-6-yl, thiazol-4-yl, 2-propyl-pyrazol-3-yl,2-ethyl-pyrazol-3-yl, 5-amino-pyridazin-2-yl, 3-amino-pyridazin-2-yl,3-chloro-pyridazin-2-yl, 2-amino-pyrimidin-5-yl, 1-methyl-imidazol-4-yl,6-amino-pyridin-3-yl, 6-amino-pyridazin-2-yl, 2-amino-pyridin-4-yl,2-dimethylamino-pyrimidin-5-yl, 6-amino-pyridin-2-yl,2-methylamino-pyridin-4-yl, 2-dimethylamino-pyridin-4-yl,3-methyl-2-dimethylamino-pyridin-4-yl, pyrimidin-5-yl,2-methyl-pyridin-4-yl, 6-methylamino-pyridin-3-yl,6-dimethylamino-pyridin-3-yl, 6-methylamino-pyrimidin-4-yl,6-dimethylamino-pyridin-3-yl, 6-methylamino-pyridin-3-yl,2-methylamino-pyrimidin-5-yl, 6-methyl-pyridin-3-yl,4-methyl-thiazol-2-yl, 2,6-dimethyl-pyridin-3-yl,imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl, 6-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 1-ethyl-pyrazol-3-yl,3-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 4-methyl-thiazol-5-yl, 1-ethyl-imidazol-2-yl,1-methyl-pyrazol-4-yl, imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl,3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 6-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,1,5-dimethyl-pyrazol-3-yl, 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl,6-trifluoromethyl-pyridin-3-yl, 5-methyl-isoxazol-3-yl,5-methyl-imidazol-2-yl, 5-methoxy-benzimidazol-2-yl,[1,2,4]triazol-3-yl, 6-methyl-pyridazin-3-yl,1-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-3-yl or8-methyl-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In embodiments where R⁵ is heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, suchheterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl may be heterocyclyl-methyl such asmorpholinomethyl, piperidinyl-methyl, piperazinyl-methyl,thiomorpholinylmethyl, pyrrolidinylmethyl, or azetidinylmethyl, theheterocyclyl portion of each of which may be optionally substituted onceor twice with a group or groups independently selected from methyl,methoxy, halo, methanesulfonyl, oxo or acetyl.

In embodiments where R⁵ is heterocyclyl-methyl, such heterocyclylmethylmay be morpholin-4-yl-methyl, 4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl-methyl,4-acetyl-piperazin-1-yl-methyl, piperidin-1-yl,thiomorpholin-4-yl-methyl, 4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl-methyl,3-oxo-piperazin-1-yl-methyl, 3-methoxy-piperidin-1-yl-methyl,4-methoxy-piperidin-1-yl-methyl, 4-hydroxy-piperidin-1-yl-methyl,1-oxo-thiomorpholin-4-yl-methyl, 3-hydroxy-pyrrolidin-1-yl-methyl,azetidin-3-yl-methyl, 4-methanesulfonyl-piperidin-1-yl-methyl,4-fluoro-piperidin1-yl-methyl, 4-acetyl-3-methyl-piperazin-1-yl-methyl,4-acetyl-3,5-dimethyl-piperazin-1-yl-methyl,2,6-dimethyl-morpholin-4-yl-methyl, 4,4-difluoro-piperidin1-yl-methyl,3-fluoro-piperidin1-yl-methyl, 4-methyl-4-hydroxy-piperidin1-yl-methyl,or 3-fluoro-4-methoxy-piperidin1-yl-methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is hydroxymethyl, methoxymethyl,pyrazin-2-yl or 5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is hydroxymethyl, methoxymethyl,pyrazin-2-yl, 5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl, 6-methyl-pyridazin-3-yl, or1-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-3-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is hydroxymethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is methoxymethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is pyrazin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is 5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is1-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridin-3-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁵ is 6-methyl-pyridazin-3-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸ are hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁷ and R⁸ are hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, one of R⁷ and R⁸ is halo orC₁₋₄-alkoxy and the other is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, both of R⁷ and R⁸ are halo orC₁₋₄-alkoxy.

In certain embodiments of formula I, one of R⁷ and R⁸ is fluoro, chloroor methoxy, and the other is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁷ and R⁸ each independently isfluoro, chloro or methoxy.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁷ and R⁸ are fluoro.

In certain embodiments of formula I, one of R⁷ and R⁸ is fluoro and theother is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, one of R⁷ and R⁸ is chloro and theother is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, one of R⁷ and R⁸ is methoxy and theother is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁶ is halo.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R⁶ is fluoro.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 4-methyl-phenyl; 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl;2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl; 4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl; 2,4-dichloro-phenyl;2,4-difluoro-phenyl; or 2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl;

R³ is hydrogen;

R⁴ is: hydrogen; or methyl; and

R⁵ is: C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkylsulfanyl-C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl; amino-C₁₋₆alkyl;N—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl; N,N-di-C₁₋₆alkyl-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl;C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; optionally substituted phenyl; heteroaryl, orheterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl,5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl, 3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl or3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl;

R³ is hydrogen;

R⁴ is: hydrogen; or methyl; and

R⁵ is: C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkylsulfanyl-C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl; amino-C₁₋₆alkyl;N—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl; N,N-di-C₁₋₆alkyl-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl;C₃₋₇cycloalkyl; optionally substituted phenyl; heteroaryl, orheterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 4-methyl-phenyl; 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl;2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl; 4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl; 2,4-dichloro-phenyl;2,4-difluoro-phenyl; or 2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl;

R³ is hydrogen;

R⁴ is: hydrogen; or methyl; and

R⁵ is: hydroxymethyl; methoxymethyl; morpholin-4-ylmethyl;piperidin-1-yl methyl optionally substituted at the 4-position withmethyl, methanesulfonyl or acetyl; 1,1,-dioxo-thiomorpholin-1-yl;piperidin-1-yl-methyl optionally substituted once or twice with a groupor groups selected independently from methyl, methoxy or halo;pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl; pyrazinyl; pyridazinyl; pyrazolyl; or thiazolyl;wherein the pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolyland thiazolyl each may be optionally substituted once or twice with agroup or groups selected independently from methyl, methylamino,dimethylamino and halo.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl,5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl, 3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl or3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl;

R³ is hydrogen;

R⁴ is: hydrogen; or methyl; and

R⁵ is: hydroxymethyl; methoxymethyl; morpholin-4-ylmethyl;piperidin-1-yl methyl optionally substituted at the 4-position withmethyl, methanesulfonyl or acetyl; 1,1,-dioxo-thiomorpholin-1-yl;piperidin-1-yl optionally substituted once or twice with a group orgroups selected independently from methyl, methoxy or halo; pyridinyl;pyrimidinyl; pyrazinyl; pyridazinyl; pyrazolyl; or thiazolyl; whereinthe pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolyl andthiazolyl each may be optionally substituted once or twice with a groupor groups selected independently from methyl, methylamino, dimethylaminoand halo.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 4-methyl-phenyl; 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl;2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl; 4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl; 2,4-dichloro-phenyl;2,4-difluoro-phenyl; or 2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl;

R³ is hydrogen; and

R⁴ and R⁵ together form a cyclopropyl group.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl,5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl, 3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl or3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl;

R³ is hydrogen; and

R⁴ and R⁵ together form a cyclopropyl group.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 4-methyl-phenyl; 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl;2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl; 4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl; 2,4-dichloro-phenyl;2,4-difluoro-phenyl; or 2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl;

R³ is hydrogen;

R⁴ is methyl; and

R⁵ is methoxymethyl, hydroxymethyl, 5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl orpyrazin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl,5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl, 3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl or3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl;

R³ is hydrogen;

R⁴ is methyl; and

R⁵ is methoxymethyl, hydroxymethyl, 5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl orpyrazin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 4-methyl-phenyl; 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl;2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl; 4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl; 2,4-dichloro-phenyl;2,4-difluoro-phenyl; or 2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl;

R³ and R⁴ are hydrogen; and

R⁵ is 5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I:

R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl optionally substituted at the 5-position withC₁₋₆alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, or C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;

R² is: 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl, 5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl,5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl, 3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl or3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl;

R³ and R⁴ are hydrogen; and

R⁵ is 5-methyl-pyridazin-2-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A or B;

wherein R^(c) and R^(d) each independently is: hydrogen; C₁₋₆alkyl;C₁₋₆alkoxy; C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl; phenyl; amino; N—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino;N,N-di-C₁₋₆alkyl-amino halo-C₁₋₆alkyl; halo-C₁₋₆alkoxy;hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl; C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl; C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl;aminocarbonyl; heterocyclylcarbonyl; C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; or cyano; orR^(c) and R^(d) together with the atoms to which they are attached mayform a phenyl, pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl group, each optionallysubstituted;

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A1:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A2:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A3:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B1:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B2:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B3:

wherein R^(a) and R^(b) are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) is:hydrogen; C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkoxy; C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl; amino;N—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino; N,N-di-C₁₋₆alkyl-amino halo-C₁₋₆alkyl;halo-C₁₋₆alkoxy; hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl; C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl;C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl; aminocarbonyl; heterocyclylcarbonyl;C₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl; or cyano.

In embodiments of formula I wherein R^(c) or R^(d) is hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl,such hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl may be selected from hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl amino-C₁₋₆alkyl, andN,N-di-(C₁₋₆alkyl)-amino-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl,cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropylmethyl, phenyl, trifluoromethyl,difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl, pentafluoro-ethyl, 1,1-difluoro-ethyl,2,2-difluoroethyl, 1-methoxy-ethyl, 1-ethoxy-ethyl,2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl, 1-hydroxy-ethyl, isopropoxy, dimethylamino,azetidin-2-yl, 1-methyl-azetidin-2-yl, 1-dimethylamino-ethyl ordimethylamino-methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isC₁₋₆alkyl or halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isC₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isC₁₋₆alkoxy.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isC₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isamino.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isN—C₁₋₆alkyl-amino.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isN,N-di-C₁₋₆alkyl-amino.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) ishalo-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) ishalo-C₁₋₆alkoxy.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) ishetero-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isC₃₋₆-cycloalkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isC₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isaminocarbonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isheterocyclylcarbonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) isC₁₋₆alkoxycarbonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) iscyano.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(b) is hydrogen and R^(d) ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl,cyclopropyl, cyclopropylmethyl, trifluoromethyl, pentafluoro-ethyl,1,1-difluoro-ethyl, 1-methoxy-ethyl, 1-ethoxy-ethyl,2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl, 1-hydroxy-ethyl, or dimethylamino-methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) is hydrogen and R^(d) ismethyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl,cyclopropyl or cyclopropylmethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) and R^(d) together with theatoms to which they are attached form optionally substituted phenyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) and R^(d) together with theatoms to which they are attached form optionally substituted pyridinyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R^(c) and R^(d) together with theatoms to which they are attached form optionally substitutedpyrimidinyl.

“Optionally substituted triazolyl” as used herein includes triazolylthat optionally have a fused 6-membered aromatic or nitrogen-containingheteroaryl ring thereon. Thus, “optionally substituted triazolyl”includes benzotriazolyl, [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridinyl,[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyridinyl, and aza-substituted derivativesthereof. Accordingly, in certain embodiments of formula I wherein R¹ isof formula A and R^(c) and R^(d) together with the atoms to which theyare attached form a phenyl, pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl group, then R¹ maybe represented by a group of formula A4:

wherein X¹ and X² each independently is CR^(f) or N, and R^(e) and R^(f)each independently is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, or halo. Inmany such embodiments R^(c) and R^(d) together with the atoms to whichthey are attached form a pyridinyl group such that X¹ and X² are CH.

In certain embodiments of formula I wherein R¹ is of formula B and R^(c)and R^(d) together with the atoms to which they are attached form aphenyl, pyridinyl or pyrimidinyl group, then R¹ may be represented by agroup of formula B4:

wherein X¹ and X² each independently is CR^(f) or N, and R^(e) and R^(f)each independently is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyloxy, or halo. Inmany such embodiments R^(a) and R^(b) together with the atoms to whichthey are attached form a phenyl group such that X¹ and X² are CH.

In many embodiments of formula I, R³ is hydrogen and R⁴ is C₁₋₆alkyl,preferably methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl,4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, and R³ is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl,4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ is hydrogen, and R⁴ ismethyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl,4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ is hydrogen, R⁴ ismethyl, and R⁶ is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

C₁₋₆alkyl selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl and isopentyl;

hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfanyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkyl-sulfinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-sulfonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,amino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N—C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl,N,N-di-C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl and hydroxy-C₁₋6alkyloxy;

C₃₋₇cycloalkyl selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl andcyclohexyl, each optionally substituted;

aryl selected from optionally substituted phenyl and optionallysubstituted naphthyl;

heteroaryl selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl,thienyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, furanyl, isoxazolyland isothiazolyl, each optionally substituted;

heterocyclyl selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl,thiomorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl,pyranyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,2-oxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan-8-yl, 2-oxa-5-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-5-yl,and 3-oxa-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl, each optionally substituted;

C₃₋₇cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from cyclopropyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,cyclobutyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, cyclopentyl-C₁₋₆alkyl and cyclohexyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,the cycloalkyl portion of each being optionally substituted;

aryl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from phenyl-C₁₋₆alkyl and naphthyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,the aryl portion of each being optionally substituted;

heteroaryl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from pyridinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,pyrimidinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyridazinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyrazinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,furanyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, thienyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyrrolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,oxazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, thiazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,isoxazolyl-C₁₋6alkyl and isothiazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, the heteroaryl portionof each being optionally substituted;

heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from piperidinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,piperazinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, morpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, thiomorpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, 1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,pyranyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyrrolidinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, tetrahydrofuranyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,2-oxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan-8-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl,2-oxa-5-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-5-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl,3-oxa-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl, the heterocyclyl portionof each being optionally substituted;

aryloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from phenoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl andnaphthyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, the aryl portion of each being optionallysubstituted; or

—C(O)—R⁸ or —CH₂—C(O)—R⁸ wherein R⁸ is as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl,4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ is hydrogen, R⁴ ismethyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   pyrazinyl; or    -   piperazin-1-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl wherein the piperazinyl moeity is        optionally substituted at the 4-position with C₁₋₆alkyl,        C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl or C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is 4-methyl-phenyl,4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ is hydrogen, R⁴ ismethyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   methoxymethyl;    -   hydroxymethyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-methyl;    -   pyrazin-2-yl; or

4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A, R² is4-methyl-phenyl, 4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   pyrazinyl; or    -   piperazin-1-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl wherein the piperazinyl moeity is        optionally substituted at the 4-position with C₁₋₆alkyl,        C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl or C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A, R² is4-methyl-phenyl, 4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   methoxymethyl;    -   hydroxymethyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-methyl;    -   pyrazin-2-yl; or    -   4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B, R² is4-methyl-phenyl, 4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   pyrazinyl; or    -   piperazin-1-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl wherein the piperazinyl moeity is        optionally substituted at the 4-position with C₁₋₆alkyl,        C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl or C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B, R² is4-methyl-phenyl, 4-chloro-phenyl or 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   methoxymethyl;    -   hydroxymethyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-methyl;    -   pyrazin-2-yl; or    -   4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin-2-yl substituted atthe 5-position with methyl or halo, and R³ is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin-2-yl substituted atthe 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ is hydrogen, and R⁴ is methyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin-2-yl substituted atthe 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ is hydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, and R⁶is hydrogen.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin-2-yl substituted atthe 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ is hydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ ishydrogen, and R⁵ is:

C₁₋₆alkyl selected from methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, n-pentyl and isopentyl;

hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from C₁₋₆alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl,hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkylsulfanyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,C₁₋₆alkyl-sulfinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₁₋₆alkyl-sulfonyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,amino-C₁₋₆alkyl, N—C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl,N,N-di-C₁₋₆alkylamino-C₁₋₆alkyl and hydroxy-C₁₋6alkyloxy;

C₃₋₇cycloalkyl selected from cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl andcyclohexyl, each optionally substituted;

aryl selected from optionally substituted phenyl and optionallysubstituted naphthyl;

heteroaryl selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazinyl,thienyl, pyrrolyl, oxazolyl, thiazolyl, imidazolyl, furanyl, isoxazolyland isothiazolyl, each optionally substituted;

heterocyclyl selected from piperidinyl, piperazinyl, morpholinyl,thiomorpholinyl, 1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl, 1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl,pyranyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,2-oxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan-8-yl, 2-oxa-5-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-5-yl,and 3-oxa-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl, each optionally substituted;

C₃₋₇cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from cyclopropyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,cyclobutyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, cyclopentyl-C₁₋₆alkyl and cyclohexyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,the cycloalkyl portion of each being optionally substituted;

aryl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from phenyl-C₁₋₆alkyl and naphthyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,the aryl portion of each being optionally substituted;

heteroaryl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from pyridinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,pyrimidinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyridazinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyrazinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,furanyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, thienyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyrrolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,oxazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, thiazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, imidazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,isoxazolyl-C₁₋6alkyl and isothiazolyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, the heteroaryl portionof each being optionally substituted;

heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from piperidinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,piperazinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, morpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, thiomorpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,1-oxo-thiomorpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, 1,1-dioxo-thiomorpholinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,pyranyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, pyrrolidinyl-C₁₋₆alkyl, tetrahydrofuranyl-C₁₋₆alkyl,2-oxa-8-aza-spiro[4.5]decan-8-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl,2-oxa-5-aza-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-5-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl,3-oxa-8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octan-8-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl, the heterocyclyl portionof each being optionally substituted;

aryloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl selected from phenoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl andnaphthyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl, the aryl portion of each being optionallysubstituted; or

—C(O)—R⁸ or —CH₂—C(O)—R⁸ wherein R⁸ is as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin-2-yl substituted atthe 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ is hydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ ishydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   pyrazinyl; or    -   piperazin-1-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl wherein the piperazinyl moeity is        optionally substituted at the 4-position with C₁₋₆alkyl,        C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl or C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R² is pyridin-2-yl substituted atthe 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ is hydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ ishydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   methoxymethyl;    -   hydroxymethyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-methyl;    -   pyrazin-2-yl; or    -   4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A, R² ispyridin-2-yl substituted at the 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   pyrazinyl; or    -   piperazin-1-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl wherein the piperazinyl moeity is        optionally substituted at the 4-position with C₁₋₆alkyl,        C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl or C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula A, R² ispyridin-2-yl substituted at the 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   methoxymethyl;    -   hydroxymethyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-methyl;    -   pyrazin-2-yl; or    -   4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B, R² ispyridin-2-yl substituted at the 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   C₁₋₆alkoxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   hydroxy-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   pyrazinyl; or    -   piperazin-1-yl-C₁₋₆alkyl wherein the piperazinyl moeity is        optionally substituted at the 4-position with C₁₋₆alkyl,        C₁₋₆alkylcarbonyl or C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl.

In certain embodiments of formula I, R¹ is a group of formula B, R² ispyridin-2-yl substituted at the 5-position with methyl or halo, R³ ishydrogen, R⁴ is methyl, R⁶ is hydrogen, and R⁵ is:

-   -   methoxymethyl;    -   hydroxymethyl;    -   morpholin-4-yl-methyl;    -   pyrazin-2-yl; or    -   4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl.

In certain embodiments of formula I the subject compounds are morespecifically of formula II:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,wherein:

X is C or N;

R¹¹ and R¹² each independently is:

-   -   hydrogen;    -   C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxy;    -   halo;    -   halo-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   halo-C₁₋₆alkoxy;    -   hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl;    -   C₁₋₆alkylsulfonyl; or    -   cyano; and

R¹ and R⁵ are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula II, the compounds of the invention areof formula IIa or IIb:

wherein X, R¹, R⁵, R¹¹ and R¹² are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of formula I the subject compounds are morespecifically of formula III:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,wherein X, R¹, R⁵, R¹¹ and R¹² are as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of any of formulas I, IIa, IIb, or III, R⁵ is:

wherein:

n is 0, 1 or 2;

R^(c) and R^(d) each independently is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl;

R^(e) is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, acetyl or C₁₋₆alkyl-sulfonyl;

R^(f) and R^(g) each independently is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl;

R^(h) and R^(i) each independently is hydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, fluoro,hydroxy or C₁₋₆ alkyloxy;

R^(j) and R^(k) each independently is hydrogen or C₁₋₆alkyl; and

R^(m), R^(h), R^(o), R^(p), R^(q) and R^(r), each independently ishydrogen, C₁₋₆alkyl, halo, C₁₋₆alkoxy, C₁₋₆alkyl-sulfonylhalo-C₁₋₆alkyl, or cyano.

In certain embodiments of any of formulas I, IIa, IIb, or III, R⁵ is:

wherein R^(e) is as defined herein.

In certain embodiments of any of formulas I, IIa, IIb, or III, R⁵ is:

Where any of R¹, R², R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R⁷, R⁸, R⁹, R¹⁰, R¹¹, R¹², R^(a),R^(b), R^(c), R^(d) and R^(e) is alkyl or contains an alkyl moiety, suchalkyl is preferably lower alkyl, i.e. C₁-C₆alkyl, and more preferablyC₁-C₄alkyl.

The invention also provides methods for treating a disease or conditionmediated by or otherwise associated with a P2X₃ receptor antagonist, aP2X_(2/3) receptor antagonist, or both, the method comprisingadministering to a subject in need thereof an effective amount of acompound of the invention.

The disease may be genitorurinary disease or urinary tract disease. Inother instances the disease may be a disease is associated with pain.The urinary tract disease may be: reduced bladder capacity; frequenctmicturition; urge incontinence; stress incontinence; bladderhyperreactivity; benign prostatic hypertrophy; prostatitis; detrusorhyperreflexia; urinary frequency; nocturia; urinary urgency; overactivebladder; pelvic hypersensitivity; urethritis; prostatitits; pelvic painsyndrome; prostatodynia; cystitis; or idiophatic bladderhypersensitivity.

The disease associated with pain may be: inflammatory pain; surgicalpain; visceral pain; dental pain; premenstrual pain; central pain; paindue to burns; migraine or cluster headaches; nerve injury; neuritis;neuralgias; poisoning; ischemic injury; interstitial cystitis; cancerpain; viral, parasitic or bacterial infection; post-traumatic injury; orpain associated with irritable bowel syndrome.

The disease may be a respiratory disorder, such as chronic obstructivepulmonary disorder (COPD), asthma, or bronchospasm, or agastrointestinal (GI) disorder such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS),Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), biliary colic and other biliarydisorders, renal colic, diarrhea-dominant IBS, pain associated with GIdistension.

Representative compounds in accordance with the methods of the inventionare shown in Table 1, together pKi values for P2X₃ and P2X_(2/3).

TABLE 1 # Structure Name (Autonom^(TM)) M + H P2X₃ P2X_(2/3) 1

4′-Methyl-5- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl- biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid (2-methoxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-amide 351 5.74 2

4′-Methyl-5- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl- biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid (2-methoxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-amide 351 5.84 4.99 3

4′-Methyl-5- [1,2,3]triazol-2-yl- biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid (2-methoxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-amide 351 5.53 4

2′-Fluoro-4′-methyl- 5- [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 453 6.36 5.91 5

4′-Methyl-5-(5- methyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3- carboxylicacid (2- methoxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-amide 365 6.22 5.55 6

4′-Methyl-5-(5- methyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3- carboxylicacid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)- amide 365 6.57 5.69 7

4′-Methyl-5-(5- methyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3- carboxylicacid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 399 8.43 6.72 8

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 8.43 6.51 9

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 393 7.73 6.3  10

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 393 8.13 6.49 11

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 8.28 6.59 12

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 427 8.1 7.5  13

4′-Methyl-5-(5- methyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3- carboxylicacid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 351 7.12 5.09 14

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 393 7.92 5.99 15

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 393 7.99 6.09 16

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 8.45 6.53 17

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 8.54 6.85 18

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 427 8.51 7.62 19

(5-(3-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 427 8.23 5.89 20

5-(3-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 393 6.43 5   21

5-(3-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 6.01 5   22

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 411 7.62 6.26 23

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 397 8.24 6.45 24

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 397 8.48 6.49 25

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 445 7.92 7.14 26

5-(3-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 6.81 5   27

5-(5-Isopropyl-3- methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 407 7 28

5-(5-Isopropyl-3- methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 393 7.19 5   29

5-(5-Isopropyl-3- methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 393 7.33 5.44 30

5-(5-Isopropyl-3- methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 441 8.34 6.87 31

5-(3-Isopropyl-5- methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 441 7.45 6.4  32

5-(3-Isopropyl-5- methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 407 6.37 5   33

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 411 8.39 5.86 34

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 397 8.49 6.37 35

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 397 8.77 6.38 36

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 445 8.43 7.64 37

5-(3-Ethyl-3H- [1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 6.42 5.17 38

5-(3-Ethyl-3H- [1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 413 8.01 6.26 39

5-(1-Ethyl-1H- [1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((R)-2-methoxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 5.07 5   40

5-(1-Ethyl-1H- [1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 365 5 5   41

5-(1-Ethyl-1H- [1,2,3]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 413 6.74 5.13 42

5-(4-Ethyl-4H- [1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 365 6.93 43

5-(4-Ethyl-4H- [1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 413 8.11 6.09 44

4′-Chloro-5-(5- dimethylamino- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 448 7.09 6.12 45

5-(5- Methoxymethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 381 7.89 5.5  46

5-(5- Methoxymethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 429 8.29 6.69 47

5-[5-(1-Methoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 395 8.33 5.69 48

5-[5-(1-Methoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 443 8.41 7.36 49

5-[5-(1-Hydroxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 429 8.29 6.55 50

4′-Chloro-5-(5- methoxy- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3- carboxylicacid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 435 7.57 6.27 51

4′-Chloro-5- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl- biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 405 6.7 5.53 52

4′-Chloro-5-(5- isopropoxy- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3- carboxylicacid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 463 7.85 6.05 53

5-(2-Isopropyl-2H- [1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-amide 427 7.89 6.51 54

5-(2-Isopropyl-2H- [1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 379 7.67 5.61 55

N-(2-Hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-3-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 153.0- 154.5° C. 8.27 6.34 56

3-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 428 8.34 7.37 57

N-(2-Hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-3-[5- (1-methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 396 7.135.1  58

3-[5-(1-Methoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 444 7.77 6.88 59

3-(5-Cyclopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 378 7.11 5.21 60

3-(5-Cyclopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 426 7.72 6.41 61

5-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 456 8.28 7.2962

5-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid (50 methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-amide 4568.28 7.36 63

4′-Methyl-5-(5- propyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3- carboxylicacid (2- dimethylamino-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 406 6.47 5   64

4′-Methyl-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid cyclopropylamide 387 8.34 6.51 65

4′-Methyl-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid ((S)- 2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 405 8.17 5.7  66

4′-Methyl-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- amide 453 8.43 7.39 67

4′-Methyl-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (5- methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-amide 453 8.2 7.31 68

N-Cyclopropyl-3- (5-methyl-pyridin- 2-yl)-5-(5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 334 6.77 — 69

3-[5-(1,1-Difluoro- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide  70.0- 71.0° C. 8.737.57 70

3-[5-(1,1-Difluoro- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide  70.0- 71.0° C. 8.727.37 71

3-[5-(1,1-Difluoro- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide  76.0-77.0° C. 8.55 5.64 72

N-Cyclopropyl-3- [5-(1,1-difluoro- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 200.0- 201.0° C. 8.04 5.6 73

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-[5- (1,1-difluoro-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]- N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)- benzamide159.0- 160.0° C. 8.05 5.66 74

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- isobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-benzamide 462 8.38 7.22 75

3-(5-Cyclobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-cyclopropyl-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 374 8.44 6.57 76

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- difluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-benzamide 456 7.99 6.13 77

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- difluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)- benzamide 456 8.01 6.14 78

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- difluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)- benzamide 408 7.12 5.06 79

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- 5-(5-trifluoro-methyl-[1,2,4] triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 474 8.07 6.43 80

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(5- methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 474 8.05 6.56 81

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N- ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 426 7.34 5.41 82

3-(5-tert-Butyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 422 8.22 5.87 83

3-(5-tert-Butyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin- 2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 462 7.91 6.94 84

3-(5-tert-Butyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)- benzamide 462 7.85 6.37 85

3-(5-tert-Butyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl)-N-((S)-2- hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-benzamide 414 7.38 5.45 86

3-(5-Cyclobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide  85.0- 86.0° C. 8.647.48 87

3-(5-Cyclobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 440 8.58 7.45 88

3-(5-Cyclobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide  95.0- 96.0° C. 8.256.25 89

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- isobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)- benzamide 462 8.38 7.05 90

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N- ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-5-(5-isobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 414 8.39 6.19 91

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- fluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-benzamide 438 7.5 5.53 92

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- fluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)- benzamide 438 7.67 5.59 93

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- fluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)- benzamide 390 6.24 5   94

3-(5-tert-Butyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 394 7.91 5   95

3-(5-tert-Butyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 442 8.27 6.93 96

N-Cyclopropyl-3- (5-methyl-pyridin- 2-yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 388 8.34 5.9  97

N-((S)-2-Hydroxy- 1-methyl-ethyl)-3- (5-methyl-pyridin- 2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 406 8.09 5.33 98

3-(5-Methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- 5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 454 8.65 7.34 99

N-(5-Methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 169.0- 170.0° C. 8.497.44 100

3-(5-Methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-benzamide 400 7.99 5.69 101

N-(5-Methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 400 8.1 5.94 102

N-((S)-2-Hydroxy- 1-methyl-ethyl)-3- (5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 352 6.58 5   103

5-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid (2- dimethylamino-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 4356.14 5   104

5-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid cyclopropylamide 390 8.11 6.39 105

5-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3- carboxylic acid ((S)- 2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-amide 4088.28 6.19 106

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- ethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin- 2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide  86.0- 87.0° C. 7.72 6.12 107

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- ethyl-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl)-N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-benzamide  94.0- 95.0° C. 6.83 5   108

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N- cyclopropyl-5-(5- ethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzamide 190.0- 191.0° C. 7.01 5.37 109

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(5- methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-5-(5-propyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 127.0- 128.0° C, 8.26 6.43 110

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- propyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-benzamide  87.0- 88.0° C. 8.14 6.45 111

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N- ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-5-(5-propyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 146.0- 147.0° C. 7.74 5.31 112

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N- cyclopropyl-5-(5- propyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 148.0- 149.0° C. 7.99 5.73 113

N-Cyclopropyl-3- (5-methyl-pyridin- 2-yl)-5-(5-propyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 362 8.34 5.8  114

N-((S)-2-Hydroxy- 1-methyl-ethyl)-3- (5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-propyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 380 8.32 5.54 115

3-(5-Methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- propyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-benzamide 428 8.48 7.1  116

N-(5-Methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-propyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 428 8.6 7.07 117

5-(1-Isopropyl-1H- [1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (5-methyl-pyrazin- 2-ylmethyl)-amide 427 7.94 6.4  118

3-(5-Isobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 442 8.37 7.45 119

3-(5-Isobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 442 8.45 7.63 120

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-benzamide 448 8.12 6.88 121

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)- benzamide 448 8.23 6.97 122

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N- ((S)-2-hydroxy-1- methyl-ethyl)-5-(5-isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 400 7.72 5.89 123

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-N- cyclopropyl-5-(5- isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 382 7.96 6.06 124

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- ethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)- benzamide  72.0- 73.0° C. 7.875.94 125

3-(5-Cyclopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 426 7.72 6.61 126

N-Cyclopropyl-3- (5-ethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 348 7.53 5.43 127

3-(5-Ethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 366 7.61 5.16 128

3-(5-Ethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 414 7.99 6.59 129

3-(5-Ethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 414 8.31 7.1  130

N-Cyclopropyl-3- (5-isobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 376 8.37 6.74 131

N-((S)-2-Hydroxy- 1-methyl-ethyl)-3- (5-isobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 394 8.43 6.8  132

3-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 428 8.48 7.41 133

3-[5-(1-Methoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 444 7.96 6.53 134

5-[5-(1-Methoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-4′-methyl- biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (5- methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-amide 444 8.18 7.42 135

2′-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (5-methyl-pyrazin- 2-ylmethyl)-amide 445 8.32 7.59 136

5-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl- 3-carboxylicacid (5-methyl-pyrazin- 2-ylmethyl)-amide 427 8.27 7.68 137

5-(2-Isopropyl-2H- [1,2,4]triazol-3-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (5-methyl-pyrazin- 2-ylmethyl)-amide 427 7.94 6.4  138

5-(3-Isopropyl-5- methoxy- [1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)- 4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (5-methyl-pyrazin- 2-ylmethyl)-amide 457 6.14 5.38 139

N-Cyclopropyl-3- [5-(1- dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 391 7.56 5.77 140

3-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 409 7.75.56 141

3-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 457 7.91 6.67142

3-[5-(1- Dimethylamino- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 457 8.04 6.64 143

N-(5-Methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-phenyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 462 7.68 5.95 144

N-((S)-2-Hydroxy- 1-methyl-ethyl)-3- (5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-phenyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 414 6.74 5.05 145

3-[5-(2,2-Difluoro- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 414 8.48 6.97 146

3-[5-(2,2-Difluoro- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 366 7.75147

3-[5-(2-Methoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 444 8.34 5.61 148

N-((S)-2-Hydroxy- 1-methyl-ethyl)-3- [5-(2-methoxy- ethyl)-1-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 396 7.22 5   149

3-[5-(2-Ethoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 458 7.7 5.14 150

3-[5-(2-Ethoxy- ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-((S)-2- hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 410 6.8 5   151

3-(5-Azetidin-3-yl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridine-2- yl)-benzamide 441 6.17 5.14 152

3-(5-Cyclobutyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(6-methyl- pyridazin-3-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 440 8.24 7.63 153

3-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(1-methyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro-pyridin- 3-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide443 7.57 5.36 154

3-[5-(2-Methoxy- ethyl)-3-methyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]- N-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 458 6.82 155

N-((S)-2-Hydroxy- 1-methyl-ethyl)-3- [5-(2-methoxy- ethyl)-3-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 410 5.48 5  156

3-[5-(2-Hydroxy-2- methyl-propyl)- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]- N-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 458 6.91 5  157

3-[5-(1-Methyl- azetidin-3-yl)- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]- N-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 455 6.17 5  158

3-(5-Chloro- pyridin-2-yl)-5-[5- (1-dimethylamino-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol- 1-yl]-N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-benzamide  87.0- 88.0° C. 7.43 6.07 159

3-(5-Isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(1-methyl-2-oxo-1,2-dihydro-pyridin- 4-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide443 8.53 7.58 160

N-(1-Methyl-2-oxo- 1,2-dihydro-pyridin- 4-ylmethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzamide 469 161

N-(6-Methyl- pyridazin-3- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 195.4- 196.0° C. 162

N-(1-Ethyl-2-oxo- 1,2-dihydro-pyridin- 4-ylmethyl)-3-(5- isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 5-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 457 163

N-(1-Ethyl-2-oxo- 1,2-dihydro-pyridin- 4-ylmethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzamide 483 164

4-Fluoro-N-(5- methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 472 7.94 6.52165

4-Fluoro-N-((S)-2- hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 4247.13 166

3-(5-Methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(2- methyl-pyrimidin-5- ylmethyl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 454 8.53 7.71 167

2-Fluoro-N-((S)-2- hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 4248.6 7.92 168

2-Fluoro-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2- yl-ethyl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 472 7.87 5.57 169

2-Fluoro-N-(5- methyl-pyrazin-2- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 472 8.37 7.02170

4-Fluoro-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2- yl-ethyl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 472 8.43 7.12 171

3-(5-Methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N-(5- methyl-pyrimidin-2- ylmethyl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 454 7.78 6.68 172

2-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 446 8.13 7.44 173

2-Fluoro-5-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1- pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)- benzamide 446 8.4 7.07 174

2-Fluoro-N-((S)-2- hydroxy-1-methyl- ethyl)-5-(5- isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- 3-(5-methyl- pyridin-2-yl)- benzamide 398 8.195.79 175

4-Fluoro-3-(5- isopropyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- N-(5-methyl- pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-benzamide 446 7.84 6.48 176

2-Fluoro-N-(6- methyl-pyridazin-3- ylmethyl)-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 472 8.43 7.49177

2-Fluoro-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-N-(5-methyl- pyrimidin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 4727.62 6.82 178

2-Fluoro-3-(5- methyl-pyridin-2- yl)-N-(2-methyl- pyrimidin-5-ylmethyl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 4728.44 7.29 179

N-((R)-1-Methyl-2- morpholin-4-yl- ethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5- trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 4757.61 6.47 180

3-(5-Methyl- pyridin-2-yl)-N- ((S)-1-pyrazin-2-yl- ethyl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl- [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)- benzamide 454 8.18 7.33

Synthesis

Compounds of the present invention can be made by a variety of methodsdepicted in the illustrative synthetic reaction schemes shown anddescribed below.

The starting materials and reagents used in preparing these compoundsgenerally are either available from commercial suppliers, such asAldrich Chemical Co., or are prepared by methods known to those skilledin the art following procedures set forth in references such as Fieserand Fieser's Reagents for Organic Synthesis; Wiley & Sons: New York,1991, Volumes 1-15; Rodd's Chemistry of Carbon Compounds, ElsevierScience Publishers, 1989, Volumes 1-5 and Supplementals; and OrganicReactions, Wiley & Sons: New York, 1991, Volumes 1-40. The followingsynthetic reaction schemes are merely illustrative of some methods bywhich the compounds of the present invention can be synthesized, andvarious modifications to these synthetic reaction schemes can be madeand will be suggested to one skilled in the art having referred to thedisclosure contained in this Application.

The starting materials and the intermediates of the synthetic reactionschemes can be isolated and purified if desired using conventionaltechniques, including but not limited to, filtration, distillation,crystallization, chromatography, and the like. Such materials can becharacterized using conventional means, including physical constants andspectral data.

Unless specified to the contrary, the reactions described hereinpreferably are conducted under an inert atmosphere at atmosphericpressure at a reaction temperature range of from about −78° C. to about150° C., more preferably from about 0° C. to about 125° C., and mostpreferably and conveniently at about room (or ambient) temperature,e.g., about 20° C.

Scheme A below illustrates one synthetic procedure usable to preparespecific compounds of formula I, wherein Y is an optional leaving group,two of Z₁, Z₂ and Z₃ are nitrogen and the other is carbon, and X, R³,R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R¹¹, R¹², R^(c) and R^(d) are as defined herein.

In step 1 of Scheme A, nitrobenzoic acid a is subject to iodinationunder sulfuric acid conditions to afford iodo-nitrobenzoic acid b.Benzoic acid compound b is reacted with arylboronic acid compound c inthe presence of tetrakis-(triphenylphosphine)palladium catalyst toafford biphenyl acid compound d. The acid group of biphenyl acid d isprotected by esterification in step 3 to form biphenyl acid methyl estere. Biphenyl ester e is then subject to reduction to form biphenylamine fin step 4. An iodination reaction is carried out in step 5 by treatingbiphenylamine f with methylene iodide or like iodination reagent toafford iodo compound g. In step 6 the ester group of compound g ishydrolyzed to give acid compound h. In step 7 an amide formation isachieved by reaction of biphenyl iodo compound h with amine i in thepresence of carbodiimide, to afford compound j. Compound j is thenreacted with heteroaryl reagent k, to yield compound m, which is acompound of formula I in accordance with the invention. Heteroarylreagent k may comprise a pyrrole, imidazol, pyrazol or triazol. Y incertain embodiments may be halo, and in other embodiments may be—B(OH)₂. In still other embodiments, Y may be absent.

Many variations of Scheme A are possible and will suggest themselves tothose skilled in the art. For example, the methyl ester formed in step 3may be replaced by other lower alkyl esters by use of the appropriatealcohol in step 3. In many embodiments step 8 may be carried out priorto steps 6 and 7, so that iodobiphenyl compound g is reacted withreagent k. The resulting heteoraryl-substituted compound (not shown)then undergoes ester hydrolyisis as in step 6, followed by amideformation as in step 7, to provide compound m. In still otherembodiments the amide formation of step 7 may be carried out at anearlier point in the sequence of events of Scheme A.

In certain embodiments the subject compounds may be prepared by theprocedure of Scheme B, wherein X, R³, R⁴, R⁵, R⁶, R¹¹, R¹² and R^(d) areas defined herein.

In step 1 of Scheme B, amine compound f (from Scheme A above) is treatedwith sodium nitrite in the presence of acid, followed by stannouschloride, to afford hydrazine compound n. In step 2, a mixture of amidecompound o and dimethyl acetamide dimethyl acetal is reacted withhydrazine compound n to yield triazolyl compound p. In step 2 the amideo and acetal compound form an imine of formula s

which may be generated in situ in many embodiments, without beingisolated. The ester hydrolysis of step 3 and amide formation of step 4are carried out as described above for steps 6 and 7 of Scheme A.

As in the case of Scheme A, many variations on the procedure of Scheme Bare possible within the scope of the invention. Specific details forproducing compounds of the invention are described in the Examplessection below.

Utility

The compounds of the invention are usable for the treatment of a widerange of genitorurinary diseases, conditions and disorders, includingurinary tract disease states associated with bladder outlet obstructionand urinary incontinence conditions such as reduced bladder capacity,frequency of micturition, urge incontinence, stress incontinence,bladder hyperreactivity, benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH),prostatitis, detrusor hyperreflexia, urinary frequency, nocturia,urinary urgency, overactive bladder, pelvic hypersensitivity,urethritis, prostatitits, pelvic pain syndrome, prostatodynia, cystitis,and idiophatic bladder hypersensitivity, and other symptoms related tooveractive bladder.

The compounds of the invention are expected to find utility asanalgesics in the treatment of diseases and conditions associated withpain from a wide variety of causes, including, but not limited to,inflammatory pain such as pain associated with arthritis (includingrheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis), surgical pain, visceral pain,dental pain, premenstrual pain, central pain, pain due to burns,migraine or cluster headaches, nerve injury, neuritis, neuralgias,poisoning, ischemic injury, interstitial cystitis, cancer pain, viral,parasitic or bacterial infection, post-traumatic injuries (includingfractures and sports injuries), and pain associated with functionalbowel disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Further, compounds of the invention are useful for treating respiratorydisorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD),asthma, bronchospasm, and the like.

Additionally, compounds of the invention are useful for treatinggastrointestinal disorders, including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS),Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), biliary colic and other biliarydisorders, renal colic, diarrhea-dominant IBS, pain associated with GIdistension, and the like.

Administration and Pharmaceutical Composition

The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising at leastone compound of the present invention, or an individual isomer, racemicor non-racemic mixture of isomers or a pharmaceutically acceptable saltor solvate thereof, together with at least one pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier, and optionally other therapeutic and/or prophylacticingredients.

In general, the compounds of the invention will be administered in atherapeutically effective amount by any of the accepted modes ofadministration for agents that serve similar utilities. Suitable dosageranges are typically 1-500 mg daily, preferably 1-100 mg daily, and mostpreferably 1-30 mg daily, depending upon numerous factors such as theseverity of the disease to be treated, the age and relative health ofthe subject, the potency of the compound used, the route and form ofadministration, the indication towards which the administration isdirected, and the preferences and experience of the medical practitionerinvolved. One of ordinary skill in the art of treating such diseaseswill be able, without undue experimentation and in reliance uponpersonal knowledge and the disclosure of this Application, to ascertaina therapeutically effective amount of the compounds of the presentinvention for a given disease.

Compounds of the invention may be administered as pharmaceuticalformulations including those suitable for oral (including buccal andsub-lingual), rectal, nasal, topical, pulmonary, vaginal, or parenteral(including intramuscular, intraarterial, intrathecal, subcutaneous andintravenous) administration or in a form suitable for administration byinhalation or insufflation. The preferred manner of administration isgenerally oral using a convenient daily dosage regimen which can beadjusted according to the degree of affliction.

A compound or compounds of the invention, together with one or moreconventional adjuvants, carriers, or diluents, may be placed into theform of pharmaceutical compositions and unit dosages. The pharmaceuticalcompositions and unit dosage forms may be comprised of conventionalingredients in conventional proportions, with or without additionalactive compounds or principles, and the unit dosage forms may containany suitable effective amount of the active ingredient commensurate withthe intended daily dosage range to be employed. The pharmaceuticalcompositions may be employed as solids, such as tablets or filledcapsules, semisolids, powders, sustained release formulations, orliquids such as solutions, suspensions, emulsions, elixirs, or filledcapsules for oral use; or in the form of suppositories for rectal orvaginal administration; or in the form of sterile injectable solutionsfor parenteral use. Formulations containing about one (1) milligram ofactive ingredient or, more broadly, about 0.01 to about one hundred(100) milligrams, per tablet, are accordingly suitable representativeunit dosage forms.

The compounds of the invention may be formulated in a wide variety oforal administration dosage forms. The pharmaceutical compositions anddosage forms may comprise a compound or compounds of the presentinvention or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof as the activecomponent. The pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may be either solidor liquid. Solid form preparations include powders, tablets, pills,capsules, cachets, suppositories, and dispersible granules. A solidcarrier may be one or more substances which may also act as diluents,flavouring agents, solubilizers, lubricants, suspending agents, binders,preservatives, tablet disintegrating agents, or an encapsulatingmaterial. In powders, the carrier generally is a finely divided solidwhich is a mixture with the finely divided active component. In tablets,the active component generally is mixed with the carrier having thenecessary binding capacity in suitable proportions and compacted in theshape and size desired. The powders and tablets preferably contain fromabout one (1) to about seventy (70) percent of the active compound.Suitable carriers include but are not limited to magnesium carbonate,magnesium stearate, talc, sugar, lactose, pectin, dextrin, starch,gelatine, tragacanth, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, alow melting wax, cocoa butter, and the like. The term “preparation” isintended to include the formulation of the active compound withencapsulating material as carrier, providing a capsule in which theactive component, with or without carriers, is surrounded by a carrier,which is in association with it. Similarly, cachets and lozenges areincluded. Tablets, powders, capsules, pills, cachets, and lozenges maybe as solid forms suitable for oral administration.

Other forms suitable for oral administration include liquid formpreparations including emulsions, syrups, elixirs, aqueous solutions,aqueous suspensions, or solid form preparations which are intended to beconverted shortly before use to liquid form preparations. Emulsions maybe prepared in solutions, for example, in aqueous propylene glycolsolutions or may contain emulsifying agents, for example, such aslecithin, sorbitan monooleate, or acacia. Aqueous solutions can beprepared by dissolving the active component in water and adding suitablecolorants, flavors, stabilizers, and thickening agents. Aqueoussuspensions can be prepared by dispersing the finely divided activecomponent in water with viscous material, such as natural or syntheticgums, resins, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and otherwell known suspending agents. Solid form preparations include solutions,suspensions, and emulsions, and may contain, in addition to the activecomponent, colorants, flavors, stabilizers, buffers, artificial andnatural sweeteners, dispersants, thickeners, solubilizing agents, andthe like.

The compounds of the invention may be formulated for parenteraladministration (e.g., by injection, for example bolus injection orcontinuous infusion) and may be presented in unit dose form in ampoules,pre-filled syringes, small volume infusion or in multi-dose containerswith an added preservative. The compositions may take such forms assuspensions, solutions, or emulsions in oily or aqueous vehicles, forexample solutions in aqueous polyethylene glycol. Examples of oily ornonaqueous carriers, diluents, solvents or vehicles include propyleneglycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils (e.g., olive oil), andinjectable organic esters (e.g., ethyl oleate), and may containformulatory agents such as preserving, wetting, emulsifying orsuspending, stabilizing and/or dispersing agents. Alternatively, theactive ingredient may be in powder form, obtained by aseptic isolationof sterile solid or by lyophilization from solution for constitutionbefore use with a suitable vehicle, e.g., sterile, pyrogen-free water.

The compounds of the invention may be formulated for topicaladministration to the epidermis as ointments, creams or lotions, or as atransdermal patch. Ointments and creams may, for example, be formulatedwith an aqueous or oily base with the addition of suitable thickeningand/or gelling agents. Lotions may be formulated with an aqueous or oilybase and will in general also containing one or more emulsifying agents,stabilizing agents, dispersing agents, suspending agents, thickeningagents, or coloring agents. Formulations suitable for topicaladministration in the mouth include lozenges comprising active agents ina flavored base, usually sucrose and acacia or tragacanth; pastillescomprising the active ingredient in an inert base such as gelatine andglycerine or sucrose and acacia; and mouthwashes comprising the activeingredient in a suitable liquid carrier.

The compounds of the invention may be formulated for administration assuppositories. A low melting wax, such as a mixture of fatty acidglycerides or cocoa butter is first melted and the active component isdispersed homogeneously, for example, by stirring. The moltenhomogeneous mixture is then poured into convenient sized molds, allowedto cool, and to solidify.

The compounds of the invention may be formulated for vaginaladministration. Pessaries, tampons, creams, gels, pastes, foams orsprays containing in addition to the active ingredient such carriers asare known in the art to be appropriate.

The subject compounds may be formulated for nasal administration. Thesolutions or suspensions are applied directly to the nasal cavity byconventional means, for example, with a dropper, pipette or spray. Theformulations may be provided in a single or multidose form. In thelatter case of a dropper or pipette, this may be achieved by the patientadministering an appropriate, predetermined volume of the solution orsuspension. In the case of a spray, this may be achieved for example bymeans of a metering atomizing spray pump.

The compounds of the invention may be formulated for aerosoladministration, particularly to the respiratory tract and includingintranasal administration.

The compound will generally have a small particle size for example ofthe order of five (5) microns or less. Such a particle size may beobtained by means known in the art, for example by micronization. Theactive ingredient is provided in a pressurized pack with a suitablepropellant such as a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), for example,dichlorodifluoromethane, trichlorofluoromethane, ordichlorotetrafluoroethane, or carbon dioxide or other suitable gas. Theaerosol may conveniently also contain a surfactant such as lecithin. Thedose of drug may be controlled by a metered valve. Alternatively theactive ingredients may be provided in a form of a dry powder, forexample a powder mix of the compound in a suitable powder base such aslactose, starch, starch derivatives such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose and polyvinylpyrrolidine (PVP). The powder carrier will form agel in the nasal cavity. The powder composition may be presented in unitdose form for example in capsules or cartridges of e.g., gelatine orblister packs from which the powder may be administered by means of aninhaler.

When desired, formulations can be prepared with enteric coatings adaptedfor sustained or controlled release administration of the activeingredient. For example, the compounds of the present invention can beformulated in transdermal or subcutaneous drug delivery devices. Thesedelivery systems are advantageous when sustained release of the compoundis necessary and when patient compliance with a treatment regimen iscrucial. Compounds in transdermal delivery systems are frequentlyattached to an skin-adhesive solid support. The compound of interest canalso be combined with a penetration enhancer, e.g., Azone(1-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one). Sustained release delivery systems areinserted subcutaneously into the subdermal layer by surgery orinjection. The subdermal implants encapsulate the compound in a lipidsoluble membrane, e.g., silicone rubber, or a biodegradable polymer,e.g., polylactic acid.

The pharmaceutical preparations are preferably in unit dosage forms. Insuch form, the preparation is subdivided into unit doses containingappropriate quantities of the active component. The unit dosage form canbe a packaged preparation, the package containing discrete quantities ofpreparation, such as packeted tablets, capsules, and powders in vials orampoules. Also, the unit dosage form can be a capsule, tablet, cachet,or lozenge itself, or it can be the appropriate number of any of thesein packaged form.

Other suitable pharmaceutical carriers and their formulations aredescribed in Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy 1995,edited by E. W. Martin, Mack Publishing Company, 19th edition, Easton,Pa. Representative pharmaceutical formulations containing a compound ofthe present invention are described below.

EXAMPLES

The following preparations and examples are given to enable thoseskilled in the art to more clearly understand and to practice thepresent invention. They should not be considered as limiting the scopeof the invention, but merely as being illustrative and representativethereof.

Unless otherwise stated, all temperatures including melting points(i.e., MP) are in degrees celsius (° C.). It should be appreciated thatthe reaction which produces the indicated and/or the desired product maynot necessarily result directly from the combination of two reagentswhich were initially added, i.e., there may be one or more intermediateswhich are produced in the mixture which ultimately leads to theformation of the indicated and/or the desired product. The followingabbreviations may be used in the Preparations and Examples.

ABBREVIATIONS

-   -   DBU 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene    -   DCM dichloromethane/methylene chloride    -   DIPEA diisopropyl ethylamine    -   DME 1,2-dimethoxyethane (glyme)    -   DMF N,N-dimethylformamide    -   DMFDMA N,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal    -   DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide    -   DMAP 4-dimethylaminopyridine    -   ECDI 1-ethyl-3-(3′-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide    -   EtOAc ethyl acetate    -   EtOH ethanol    -   gc gas chromatography    -   HMPA hexamethylphosphoramide    -   HOBt N-Hydroxybenzotriazole    -   hplc high performance liquid chromatography    -   IPA isopropanol    -   mCPBA m-chloroperbenzoic acid    -   MeCN acetonitrile    -   NMM N-methyl morpholine    -   NMP N-methylpyrrolidinone    -   TEA triethylamine    -   THF tetrahydrofuran    -   LDA lithium diisopropylamine    -   TLC thin layer chromatography

Preparation 1 (S)-2-Methoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme C.

Step 1 (S)-Boc-2-amino-propanol

D-Alanine (3.5 g, 39.3 mmol) was added in small portions to a suspensionof LiAlH₄ (2.89 g, 76.26 mmol) in refluxing THF. Refluxing continued for12 hours, then the reaction mixture was cooled to 0° C., and excessreagent was quenched by careful addition of an aqueous 15% NaOH solution(3 ml) and water (9 ml). After stirring at room temperature for 10minutes, a solution of (Boc)₂O (8.31 g, 38.13 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (40 ml)was added. The reaction mixture was stirred at 60° C. for 6 hours,cooled to room temperature, filtered through a pad of anhydrous Na₂SO₄,and the filtrate concentrated under vacuum. Purification of the residueby silica-gel column chromatography afforded (S)-Boc-2-amino-propanol asa white solid, yield: 63%. MS (M+H)=176.

Step 2 (S)-Boc-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine

To a solution of (S)-Boc-2-amino-propanol (2.00 g, 11.4 mmol) wassuccessively added Ag₂O (5.89 g, 25.4 mmol) and Methyl iodide (16.00 g,112.7 mmol) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred atroom temperature for 2 days. Solid was filtered off and the filtrate wasconcentrated under vacuum to afford(S)-Boc-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine as a colorless oil that was usedwithout further purification.

Step 3 (S)-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine

(S)-Boc-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine was dissolved in MeOH (40 mL) and3 M HCl (10 mL) was added. The reaction mixture was stirred overnight atroom temperature, then solvent was removed under reduced pressure andthe residue was co-evaporated with additional EtOH (20 mL) to afford(S)-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine as light-brown oil in hydrochlorideform (1.42 g, 100%). MS (M+H)=90.

Similarly prepared was (S)-2-ethoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine.

Similarly prepared from L-alanine were (R)-2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethylamineand (R)-2-ethoxy-1-methyl-ethylamine.

Preparation 2 (S)-1-Methyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-ethylamine

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme D.

Step 1 Methanesulfonic acid 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-propyl ester

To a solution of (S)-Boc-2-amino-propanol (4.91 g, 0.028 mol), Et₃N (1.5equiv.) in CH₂Cl₂ at 0° C. was added methanesulfonyl chloride (1.1-1.2equiv). The reaction was stirred at 0° C. for 30 minutes. Water (5 ml)was added and the organic layer was separated, washed with saturatedaqueous NaHCO₃, brine, and dried with MgSO₄. Solvent was removed undervacuum to afford methanesulfonic acid 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-propylester as a white solid, yield: 98%. MS (M+H)=254.

Step 2 (1-Methyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-carbamic acid tert-butyl ester

To a solution of methanesulfonic acid 2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-propylester (23 mmol) in CH₃CN (20 mL) was added morpholine (28 mmol) andK₂CO₃ (23 mmol) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was brought to50° C. and kept at the same temperature overnight. The reaction mixturewas cooled and solvent was removed under reduced pressure, and theresidue was treated with CH₂Cl₂ (50 mL) and H₂O (50 mL). The organiclayer was separated and the aqueous layer was extracted with CH₂Cl₂. Thecombined organic layer was dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed underreduced pressure and the residue was purified by column chromatography(ethyl acetate) to afford (1-methyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-carbamicacid tert-butyl ester as viscous liquid, yield: 62%. MS (M+H)=245.

Step 3 (S)-1-Methyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-ethylamine

To a solution of (1-methyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-carbamic acidtert-butyl ester (0.30 g, 1.22 mmol) in methanol (10 mL) was added 2NHCl (5 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was allowed to warm to roomtemperature and was stirred overnight. The solvent was removed undervacuum to give (S)-1-Methyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-ethylamine as a lightyellow solid (250 mg, 96%). MS (M+H)=145.

Similarly prepared were (S)-1-Methyl-2-thiomorpholin-4-yl-ethylamine,(S)-1-[4-(2-Amino-propyl)-piperazin-1-yl]-ethanone,(S)-1-(2-Amino-propyl)-piperidin-4-ol,(S)-1-(2-Amino-propyl)-piperidin-3-ol,(S)-1-Methyl-2-(4-methyl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethylamine,(S)-1-Methyl-2-(4-methanesulfonyl-piperazin-1-yl)-ethylamine,(S)-4-(2-Amino-propyl)-piperazin-2-one,1-Methyl-2-piperidin-1-yl-ethylamine,1-(2-Amino-propyl)-pyrrolidin-3-ol,(S)-2-(4-Methoxy-piperidin-1-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine,(S)-2-(3-Methoxy-piperidin-1-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine,(S)-2-(4-Methanesulfonyl-piperidin-1-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine, and other2-amino-1-heterocyclyl propanes.

Preparation 3(S)-2-(1,1-Dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme E.

Step 1 (1-Methyl-2-oxo-2-thiomorpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-carbamic acidtert-butyl ester

To a solution of 2-tert-Butoxycarbonylamino-propionic acid (3.5 g, 18.5mmol), HOBt (22.2 mmol), NMP (22.2 mmol) and EDCI (22.2 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂was added thiomorpholine (2.29 g, 22.2 mmol) at 0° C. The reactionmixture was stirred at 0° C. overnight, then washed with 2% aqueousNaOH, water, brine, and dried over Na₂SO₄. The solvent was removed undervacuum to give (1-Methyl-2-oxo-2-thiomorpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-carbamic acidtert-butyl ester (5.0 g) yield 98%. MS (M+H)=275.

Step 2[2-(1,1-Dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1-methyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-carbamicacid tert-butyl ester

To a solution of (1-methyl-2-oxo-2-thiomorphin-4-yl-ethyl)-carbamic acidter-butyl ester (5.0 g, 18.2 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ was added m-CPBA (11.4 g,46.25 mmol) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was stirred at roomtemperature overnight. Solids were removed by filtration and thefiltrate was washed by Na₂S₂O₃ and dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent wasremoved under vacuum to give[2-(1,1-Dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1-methyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-carbamicacid tert-butyl ester (5.6 g), yield 100%. MS (M+H)=307.

Step 3 2-Amino-1-(1,1-dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-propan-1-one

To a solution of[2-(1,1-Dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1-methyl-2-oxo-ethyl]-carbamicacid tert-butyl ester (5.6 g, 18.2 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (70 mL) was addedtrifluoroacetic acid (5 mL) at 0° C. The reaction mixture was allowed towarm to room temperature and was stirred for 3 hours. After removal ofCH₂Cl₂ and excess trifluoroacetic acid under reduced pressure,2-Amino-1-(1,1-dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-propan-1-one (6.0 g,yield 100%) was obtained as a white solid. MS (M+H)=207.

Step 4(S)-2-(1,1-Dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine

A mixture of2-Amino-1-(1,1-dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-propan-1-one (6.0 g,18.2 mmol) and BH₃ (1 M in THF, 110 mL) was heated to reflux for 48 h,then cooled to room temperature and quenched by MeOH. The volatile wasremoved under vacuum. 2 N HCl (100 mL) was added to the residue andheated to reflux for 18 h. Solvent was removed under vacuum to give(S)-2-(1,1-Dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1-methyl-ethylamine (4.5g) as white solid, yield 90%. MS (M+H)=193.

Preparation 4 1-Pyrazin-2-yl-ethylamine

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme F.

To a solution of 1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethanone (2.0 g, 15.85 mmol) andammonium acetate (19.337 g, 158.5 mmol) in methanol (50 mL) was addedsodium cyanoborohydride (0.7 g, 11.1 mmol) in one portion. The reactionmixture was stirred overnight at room temperature. After removal ofmethanol, water (20 mL) was added to the residue and the resultingsolution was basified by addition of sodium hydroxide to pH=13. Theaqueous solution was extracted with dicholromethane and the combinedorganic phase was dried over sodium sulfate. Removal of the solventunder reduced pressure afforded 14.62 g of 1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethylamine,yield: 75%. MS (M+H)=124.

Similarly prepared from the appropriate heteroaryl methyl ketones orphenyl methyl ketones were: 1-pyridin-2-yl-ethylamine,1-pyridin-3-yl-ethylamine, 1-pyridin-4-yl-ethylamine,1-(2-fluoro-phenyl)-ethylamine, 1-(3-Fluoro-phenyl)-ethylamine,1-(4-methanesulfonyl-phenyl)-ethylamine, 1-thien-3-yl-ethylamine,1-furan-2-yl-ethylamine, 1-(5-methyl-furan)-2-yl-ethylamine,1-thiazol-2-yl-ethylamine, 1-thien-2-yl-ethylamine,1-pyrimidin-2-yl-ethylamine, C-(6-methyl-pyridazin-3-yl)-methylamine,C-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl)-methylamine, and 1-pyridazin-4-yl-ethylamine.

Preparation 5 5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme G.

Step 1 3-Iodo-5-nitro-benzoic acid

To a stirred solution of iodine (137.95 g, 0.5436 mmol) in fumingsulfuric acid (250 ml) was added m-nitrobenzoic acid (64.6 g, 0.3866mmol) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was slowly heated to 85°C. overs 2 hours and stirred at the same temperature for another 12hours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature and pouredinto ice, and the aqueous solution was extracted with dichloromethane.The organic phase was separated and washed with water, 2.0 M solution ofNa₂S₂O₃ and brine, and then dried over Na₂SO₄. Solvent was removed underreduced pressure to yield 3-iodo-5-nitrobenzoic acid as slight yellowsolid 111 g, yield 98%. MS (M+H)=294.

Step 2 4′-Methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid

To a stirred solution of 3-iodo-5-nitrobenzoic acid (15.48 g, 52.83mmol) and Pd(Ph₃P)₄ (1.84 g, 1.69 mmol) in 300 ml of toluene and 50 mlof ethanol was added p-tolylboronic acid (7.87 g, 58.11 mmol) and asolution of Cs₂CO₃ (18.89 g, 58.11 mmol) in 20 ml water at roomtemperature. The reaction was brought to reflux for 18 hours and thencooled to room temperature. To the solution was added 2N NaOH, and thereaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes. The organic phase wasseparated, and the aqueous phase was adjusted to PH<4 using 12N HCl. Theresulting solid precipitate was filtered and washed with toluene toafford 13.2 g of 4′-methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid as lightyellow solid (97.2%). MS (M+H)=258.

Step 3 4′-Methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

EDCI (16.17 g, 84.38 mmol) was added portion wise to a stirred solutionof 4′-methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (15.49 g, 60.27 mmol),HOBt (11.44 g, 84.38 mmol) and 2-amino-1-methoxy-1-propane (7 ml, 66.31mmol) in NMP (9.29 ml, 84.38 mmol), CH₂Cl₂ (180 ml) and DMF (20 ml) at0° C. The mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and wasstirred at the same temperature for 14 hours. The reaction mixture waswashed with 2N HCl, 2N NaOH, saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, brine, dried overanhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered, and concentrated under vacuum to give4′-methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide as a yellow oil (16.5 g, 83.5%). MS(M+H)=329.

Step 4 5-Amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

To a stirred solution of 4′-methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide (39 mmol) in 250 ml methanol was addedSnCl₂ (117 mmol) in one portion at room temperature. The reactionmixture was heated to reflux for 3 hours. Solvent was removed underreduced pressure and the residue was diluted with ethyl acetate andtreated with saturated NaHCO₃ solution. Solids were filtered off and thefiltrate was washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, brine, dried overanhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vaccuo to give5-amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide as a yellow oil (10.5 g, 90.3%). MS(M+H)=299.

Step 5 5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

A mixture of 5-amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide (5.3 g, 17.8 mmol), iso-amyl nitrite(13.5 ml, 88.9 mmol) and diiodomethane (8 ml, 106.7 mmol) was stirred atroom temperature for 1 hour. The mixture was then heated to 65° C. andkept for 8 hours, LC/MS indicated that reaction completed. The reactionmixture was cooled to room temperature and the separation of iodobenzenefrom excess diiodomethane was effected by addition of the reactionmixture at room temperature to a stirred solution of piperidin-CH₃CN(V/V=90 ml/90 ml). A vigorous exothermic reaction ensued. The excessvolatile reagents were removed by rotary evaporation at 80° C. Theresidue was diluted with ethyl acetate, washed with 10% hydrochloricacid, water and brine. The organic layer was separated and dried overanhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo. The residue waspurified by flash column chromatography (ethyl acetate/hexanes=10:1) toyield 5-iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide as a yellow solid (5.2 g, 83.8%). MS(M+H)=410.

Similarly prepared, using the appropriate amine compound in step 3,were:

-   5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid    (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide, MS (M+H)=444;-   5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid    (2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide, MS (M+H)=396;-   5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid    (1-methyl-2-morpholin-4-yl-ethyl)-amide, MS (M+H)=465;-   5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid    [2-(1,1-dioxo-1lambda*6*-thiomorpholin-4-yl)-1-methyl-ethyl]-amide,    MS (M+H)=513; and-   5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid    (pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-amide, MS (M+H)=430.

Preparation 6 5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme H.

Step 1,4′-Methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester

To a solution of 4′-methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid (10.00 g,0.039 mol) in methanol was added SOCl₂ (5.09 g, 0.043 mol) at 0° C. Thereaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was thenheated to reflux for 2 hours. The solvent was removed in vacuo to afford4′-Methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (9.72 g, 92%)as light yellow solid. MS (M+H)=273.

Step 2 5-Amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester

4′-Methyl-5-nitro-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester was reducedusing SnCl₂ using the procedure of step 4 of preparation 6 to afford5-Amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester, MS (M+H)=242.

Step 3 5-Iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester

5-Amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester was treatedwith methylene iodide and isoamy nitrate using the procedure of step 5of preparation 5, to afford 5-iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid,MS (M+H)=353.

Similarly prepared was 2′-fluoro-5-iodo-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester, MS (M+H)=371.

Preparation 7 3-Iodo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme I.

Step 1 3-Iodo-5-nitro-benzoic acid methyl ester

To a solution of 3-iodo-5-nitrobenzoic acid (20.00 g, 0.068 mol) inmethanol (50 mL) was added SOCl₂ (5.45 mL, 0.075 mol) at 0° C. Thereaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was thenheated to breflux for 2 hours. The reaction was cooled and solvent wasremoved in vacuo to afford 3-Iodo-5-nitro-benzoic acid methyl ester aslight yellow solid (20.67 g, 99%). MS (M+H)=309.

Step 2 3-Nitro-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester

A solution of 3-iodo-5-nitro-benzoic acid methyl ester (10 g, 0.0326mol), bis(pinacolato)diboron (9.1 g, 0.0358 mol), KOAc (9.5 9 g, 0.098mol) and PdCl₂(dppf) (798 mg, 0.98 mmol) in DMSO (40 ml) was heated to80° C. for 4 hours under N₂ atmosphere. The mixture was cooled to roomtemperature and extracted with Et₂O. The combined organic phases werewashed with brine and dried over Na₂SO₄. The solvent was evaporatedunder reduced pressure and the resulting crude3-nitro-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzoic acidmethyl ester was used without purification in the next step.

Step 3 3-(5-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-nitro-benzoic acid methyl ester

To a solution of 2-bromo-5-methylpyridine (1.24 g, 7 mmol),Pd(PPh₃)₄(226 mg, 0.2 mmol) and K₃PO₄(2.76 g, 13 mmol) in DME/H₂O (5ml/1 ml) was added3-nitro-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzoic acidmethyl ester (2.00 g, 6.5 mmol) under N₂ atmosphere. The mixture wassubjected to microwave radiation at 130° C. for 0.5 hours. The reactionmixture was cooled and solvent was evaporated under reduced pressure.The residue was purified by flash-chromatography (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH) to give3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-nitro-benzoic acid methyl ester as a whitesolid (700 mg, 40%).

Step 4 3-Amino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester

To a solution of 3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-nitro-benzoic acid methylester (4 g, 14.7 mmol) in methanol/ethyl acetate was added SnCl₂ (11.15g, 58.8 mmol) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was refluxed for3 hours and then cooled. Solvent was removed under reduced pressure andthe residue was dissolved in H₂O and basified by addition of Na₂CO₃ topH=9. The mixture was extracted with CH₂Cl₂, and the organic phase waswashed with water, brine, and dried over Na₂SO₄. The solvent was removedunder reduced pressure to give 3-mmino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester (3.2 g, 90%) as white solid.

Step 5 3-Iodo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester

5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester was treated withmethylene iodide and isoamy nitrate using the procedure of step 5 ofpreparation 6, to afford 3-iodo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acidmethyl ester, MS (M+H)=353.

Step 6 3-Iodo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid

A solution of LiOH hydrate (82 mg, 1.94 mmol) in H₂O (7 mL) was addeddropwise to a suspension of 3-iodo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester (526 mg, 1.49 mmol) in THF (4 mL) at 0° C. Thereaction mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature and was stirreduntil the reaction solution turned into clear. Solvent was removed undervacuum and the resulting aqueous solution was acidified by 10% HCl topH=6-7. The resulting precipitate was collected and dried to afford3-iodo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid (470 mg, 93%). MS(M+H)=340.

Similarly prepared, but using 2-bromo-5-chloropyridine in step 3 insteadof 2-bromo-5-methylpyridine, was3-iodo-5-(5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid, MS (M+H)=360.

Preparation 8 3-Bromo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methylester

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme J.

Step 1 3-Bromo-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester

3-Bromo-5-iodo-benzoic acid methyl ester (14.16 g, 41.53 mmol),bis(pinacolato)-diborane (11.60 g, 45.7 mmol), PdCl₂(dppf)₂ (1.02 g,1.256 mmol) and potassium acetate (12.22 g, 124.6 mmol) were added to 50mL of DMSO, and the reaction mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 20 hours,then cooled to room temperature. The reaction mixture was diluted withwater and extracted with diethyl ether. The combined organic extractswere dried over Mg SO₄, filtered, and concentrated under reducedpressure to give 18.5 g of3-bromo-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzoic acidmethyl ester, which was used directly in the next step without furtherpurification.

Step 2 3-Bromo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester

A mixture of 2-bromo-5-methyl-pyridine (10.27 g, 59.68 mmol) andpalladium tetrakis(triphenylphosphine) (1.88 g, 1.65 mmol) in 300 mL DMEwas stirred at 60° C. under nitrogen for 30 minutes. To this mixture wasadded 3-bromo-5-(4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-[1,3,2]dioxaborolan-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester (18.5 g, 54.25 mmol), followed by K₃PO₄ 23.03 g, 108.5mmol) in 40 mL water. The mixture was refluxed for eight hours, thencooled to room temperature and partitioned between water and EtOAc. Thecombined organic layers were washed with water, dried over MgSO₄,filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residue waspurified via flash chromatography (5:1 EtOAc/hexanes) to give 8.5 g of3-bromo-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester, MS(M+H)=306.

Similarly prepared were:

-   3-Bromo-5-(2-chloro-5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl    ester, MS (M+H)=341;-   3-Bromo-5-(2-fluoro-5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl    ester, MS (M+H)=325; and-   3-Bromo-5-(5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester, MS    (M+H)=327.

Example 1 4′-Methyl-5-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme K.

Step 1 5-Azido-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

To a solution of 5-amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide (500 mg, 1.68 mmol) in trifluoroaceticacid (10 mL) was added a solution of NaNO₂ (21.47 mmol, 1.49 g) in water(10 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 10 minutes and asolution of NaN₃ (44.43 mmol, 2.89 g) in water (10 mL) was added. Thesolution was stirred at room temperature for 16 hours. Solvent wasremoved under reduced pressure and the residue was extracted with ethylacetate, washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃, brine, dried overanhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give5-azido-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide. (80%). MS (M+H)=325.

Step 2 4′-Methyl-5-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

A solution of 5-azido-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide (488 mg, 1.5 mmol),ethynyltrimethylsilane (4.5 mmol, 0.64 mL) in DMF (6 mL) was heated to110° C. for 16 hours. The mixture was cooled and filtered, and thefiltrate was purified by preparative HPLC to afford 262 mg of4′-methyl-5-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide as white solid (50%). MS (M+H)=351.

Additional compounds prepared by the above procedure are shown in Table1.

Example 2 4′-Methyl-5-[1,2,3]triazol-2-yl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme L.

Step 1 5-Hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

5-Amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide (596 mg, 2 mmol) was dissolved in 6 mLof concentrated HCl and stirred for 15 minutes at 0° C. To the reactionmixture was added a solution of NaNO₂ (138 mg, 2 mmol) in water (1.5 mL)dropwise at 0° C. The mixture was stirred for 30 minutes, and then asolution of SnCl₂ (4.5 mmol, 189.6 mg) in 2 mL of concentrated HCl wasadded dropwise. A precipitate began to form immediately. After stirringfor another 30 minutes, the resulting5-hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide was isolated as a hydrochloride salt byfiltration and immediately used in the next step.

Step 2 4′-Methyl-5-[1,2,3]triazol-2-yl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide

A mixture of 5-hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide hydrochloride salt (2 mmol), glyoxal(40% aqueous solution, 1 mL) and 50% aqueous acetic acid (2 mL) washeated to 150° C. for 60 minutes by microwave irradiation. The reactionmixture was cooled and diluted with EtOAc, washed with saturated aqueousNa₂CO₃, brine, dried over anhydrous Na₂SO₄, filtered and concentrated invacuo. The residue was purified by preparative HPLC to give 210 mg of4′-methyl-5-[1,2,3]triazol-2-yl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide as a white solid (30%). MS (M+H)=351.

Additional compounds prepared by the above procedure are shown in Table1.

Example 35-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme M.

Step 15-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acidmethyl ester

The 5-hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester usedin this Example was prepared from5-amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester following theprocedure of step 1 of Example 6.

To a solution of 5-hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methylester (300 mg, 1.17 mmol) in HOAc (5 mL) was addedN-dimethylaminomethylene-isobutyramide (233 mg. 1.4 mmol) in oneportion. The mixture was heated to 90° C. for two hours. After removingthe excess HOAc, the residue was dissolved in EtOAc and washed withsaturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The organic layer was dried over anhydroussodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated under reduced pressure. Theresidue was purified by flash chromatography (ISCO™) to afford5-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acidmethyl ester a yellow solid (293 mg, 74.6%).

Step 25-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid

5-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acidmethyl ester was hydrolysed with LiOH following the procedure of step 2,Example 8, to give5-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid.

Step 35-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

5-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acidwas subject to the amide coupling reaction described in step 4 ofExample 6, but replacing 2-amino-propan-1-ol with1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethylamine, to give5-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide, MS (M+H)=427.

Similarly prepared, but replacing5-hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester in step 1with 3-hydrazino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester(prepared as described in step 1 of Example 6), was3-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-benzamide,MS (M+H)=428.

Example 45-[5-(1-Methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme N.

Step 15-[5-(1-Hydroxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester

A mixture of 2-hydroxy-propionamide (1.0 g, 11.2 mmol) andN,N-dimethylformamide dimethyl acetal (1.06 g, 8.96 mmol) in dimethylglycol (6 mL) was heated to 80° C. for two hours, then cooled to roomtemperature. T mixture was added to a solution of5-hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1.2 g,4.1 mmol) in HOAc (5 mL), and the mixture was heated to 80° C. foranother two hours. The reaction mixture was cooled and volatiles wereremoved under reduced pressure. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc andwashed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃. The organic layer was dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated under reducedpressure. The residue was purified by flash chromatography to afford5-[5-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester as a white solid (410 mg, 29.76%).

Step 25-[5-(1-Methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester

To a suspension mixture of5-[5-(1-hydroxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′4-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methylester (300 mg, 0.89 mmol) and Ag2O (454 mg, 1.96 mmol) inCH3CN (5 mL) was added MeI (1 mL). The reaction mixture was wrapped withalumina foil and stirred overnight. The solid was filtered and washedwith CH3CN. The combined filtrate was condensed and the residue waspurified by ISCO to afford5-[5-(1-methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester as a light yellow solid (290 mg, 93.0%).

Step 35-[5-(1-Methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid

5-[5-(1-Methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester was hydrolysed with LiOH following the procedure ofstep 2, Example 8, to give5-[5-(1-methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid.

Step 45-[5-(1-Methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

5-[5-(1-Methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid was subject to the amide coupling reaction described in step 4 ofExample 6, but replacing 2-amino-propan-1-ol with1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethylamine, to give5-[5-(1-methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide, MS (M+H)=443.

Similarly prepared, but replacing5-hydrazino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester in step 1with 3-hydrazino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester(prepared as described in step 1 of Example 6), was3-[5-(1-Methoxy-ethyl)-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl]-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-N-(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-benzamide,MS (M+H)=444.

Example 55-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme O.

Step 15-Isopropyl-1-(5-methoxycarbonyl-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carboxylicacid ethyl ester

The 5-azido-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester used inthis step was prepared from 5-amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acidmethyl ester using the procedure of step 1 of Example 4.

To a mixture of 5-azido-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methylester (200 mg, 0.75 mmol) and ethyl isobutyrylacetate (119 mg, 0.75mmol) in EtOH (5 mL) was added EtONa (51 mg, 0.75 mmol) and the mixturewas heated to 80° C. for two hours, then cooled to room temperature.EtOH was removed from the reaction mixture to afford5-isopropyl-1-(5-methoxycarbonyl-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carboxylicacid ethyl ester as a gel which was used directly in the next step.

Step 21-(5-Carboxy-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-5-isopropyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carboxylicacid

The5-isopropyl-1-(5-methoxycarbonyl-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carboxylicacid ethyl ester from step 1 was dissolved in THF (7 mL) and water (4mL) and LiOH.H2O (184 mg, 4.38 mmol) were added as a single portion. Thereaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for three hours.Solvent was removed under reduced pressure and the remaining aqueoussolution was acidified with concentrated HCl to pH˜1. The solution wasextracted with EtOAc and the combined organic layers were dried overanhydrous sodium sulfate, filtered, and concentrated under reducedpressure to afford1-(5-carboxy-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-5-isopropyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carboxylicacid light yellow solid (260 mg), which was used without furtherpurification in the next step.

Step 35-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid

The1-(5-carboxy-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-yl)-5-isopropyl-1H-[1,2,3]triazole-4-carboxylicacid from step 2 was heated to 170° C. until no further carbon dioxidewas released. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature, andthe resulting crude5-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acidwas used directly in the next step without further purification.

Step 45-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

5-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acidwas subject to the amide coupling reaction described in step 4 ofExample 6, but replacing 2-amino-propan-1-ol with1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethylamine, to give5-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid(1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide, MS (M+H)=427.

Example 63-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzamide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme P.

Step 1 3-Hydrazino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester

3-Amino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester (1.0 g, 4mmol) was suspended in 16 mL concentrated aqueous HCl, and the mixturewas cooled to 0° C. A solution of sodium nitrite (0.30 g) in water (3mL) was added, and the mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 45 minutes. Asolution of SnCl₂ hydrate (2.34 g) in 5 mL concentrated aqueous HCl wasthen added. The reaction mixture was stirred for one hour at roomtemperature, then filtered. The collected solid was washed with waterand dried to give 1.80 g of3-hydrazino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester as awhite powder.

Step 23-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester

Isobutyramide (6.02 g, 69 mmol) and DMFDMA (9.22 mL) were added to 10 mLof DMA in a first flask, and the mixture was heated to 80° C. withstirring for one hour. In a second flask, a suspension of3-hydrazino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methyl ester (6.42 g,23 mmol) was suspended in acetic acid and heated t 80° C. The contentsof the first flask were slowly added to the second flask, and thecombined mixture was stirred at 80° C. for two hours. The reactionmixture was cooled and concentrated under reduced pressure. The residuewas diluted with EtOAc, washed with saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ and water,dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Theresidue was purified via flash chromatography (hexanes/EtOAc 4: - - -2:1) to give 2.06 g of3-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester as a clear oil, MS (M+H)=337.

Step 33-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid

3-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester (2.0 g, 6 mmol) was dissolved in 30 mL MeOH, and 2.0mL of 3N aqueous NaOH was added. The reaction mixture was stirred atroom temperature for 18 hours, then cooled and acidified with 10%aqueous HCl, and concentrated under reduced pressure to yield 2.45 g of3-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid.

Step 43-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzamide

3-(5-Isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoicacid (1.90 g, 6 mmol), C-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2-yl)-methylamine (0.73 g, 6mmol), EDCI (1.69 g, 9 mmol), HOBt (1.20 g, 9 mmol) and NMM (3.2 mL)were added to 20 mL of acetonitrile. The reaction mixture was stirred atroom temperature for 18 hours under nitrogen atmosphere, then waspartitioned between water and EtOAc. The combined organic layers weredried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. Theresulting residue was purified via flash chromatography (IPA/DCM 1:4))to give 1.63 g of3-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-N-(5-methyl-pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzamide,MS (M+H)=428.

Example 7N-(5-Methyl-pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzamide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme Q.

Step 1N-(5-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester

Trifluoroacetamide (4.70 g, 40 mmol) was dissolved in 15 mL DME in afirst flask, and 5.53 mL of DMF DMA was added. The mixture was stirredat room temperature for 30 minutes, and then solvent was removed underreduced pressure. In a second flask toluene sulfonic acid (11.85 g, 60mmol) and 3-hydrazino-5-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-benzoic acid methylester (6.08 g, 20 mmol) were dissolved in 100 mL of DMSO and heated to70° C. The contents of the first flask were added to the contents of thesecond flask, and the reaction mixture was stirred at 70° C. for twohours. The reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature andpartitioned between water and EtOAc. The combined organic layers werewashed with water, dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated underreduced pressure. The residue was purified via column chromatography togive 1.44 g ofN-(5-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester as a white solid, MS (M+H)=363.

Step 2N-(5-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzoicacid

N-(5-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzoicacid methyl ester (1.44 g) was dissolved in a mixture of MeOH and THF(20 mL of each) together with 2 mL of 3N aqueous NaOH. The mixture wasstirred 18 hours at room temperature, then cooled to 0° C. and acidifiedwith 10% aqueous HCl to a pH of about 4. Solvent was removed underreduced pressure to give 1.50 ofN-(5-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzoicacid as a white solid.

Step 3N-(5-Methyl-pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzamide

N-(5-Methyl-pyrazin-2-ylmethyl)-3-(5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzamide(670 mg, MS (M+H)=454) was prepared fromN-(5-Methyl-pyridin-2-yl)-5-(5-trifluoromethyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-benzoicacid and C-(5-Methyl-pyrazin-2-yl)-methylamine using the procedure ofstep 6 of Example 6.

Example 85-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

The synthetic procedure used in this preparation is outlined below inScheme R.

Step 15-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester

The isobutyric acid hydrazide used in this example was prepared fromisobutyric acid chloride and hydrazine hydrate following the procedureof Org. Synth. Vol. 81 p. 254 (2005).

Isobutyric acid hydrazide (55 mg, 5.34 mmol) and1,1-dimethoxy-ethyl)-dimethyl-amine (774 mg, 5.81 mmol) were added to 6mL CH₃CN and the mixture was heated to 50° C. and stirred for 30minutes. 5-Amino-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester (1.0g, 4.15 mmol) was added, followed by 6 mL of acetic acid. The reactionmixture was heated to 120° C. and stirred for five hours, then cooled toroom temperature. Solvent was removed under reduced pressure and theresidue was purified via flash chromatography to give 400 mg (30%) of5-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester as a white powder.

Step 25-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid

5-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid was prepared by basic hydrolysis of5-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid methyl ester following the procedure of step 3 of Example 4.

Step 35-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide

5-(3-Isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide was prepared from5-(3-isopropyl-5-methyl-[1,2,4]triazol-4-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid and 1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethylamine using the procedure of step 4 ofExample 6.

Example 9 Formulations

Pharmaceutical preparations for delivery by various routes areformulated as shown in the following Tables. “Active ingredient” or“Active compound” as used in the Tables means one or more of theCompounds of Formula I.

Composition for Oral Administration

Ingredient % wt./wt. Active ingredient 20.0% Lactose 79.5% Magnesiumstearate 0.5%

The ingredients are mixed and dispensed into capsules containing about100 mg each; one capsule would approximate a total daily dosage.

Composition for Oral Administration

Ingredient % wt./wt. Active ingredient 20.0% Magnesium stearate 0.5%Crosscarmellose sodium 2.0% Lactose 76.5% PVP (polyvinylpyrrolidine)1.0%

The ingredients are combined and granulated using a solvent such asmethanol. The formulation is then dried and formed into tablets(containing about 20 mg of active compound) with an appropriate tabletmachine.

Composition for Oral Administration

Ingredient Amount Active compound 1.0 g Fumaric acid 0.5 g Sodiumchloride 2.0 g Methyl paraben 0.15 g Propyl paraben 0.05 g Granulatedsugar 25.5 g Sorbitol (70% solution) 12.85 g Veegum K (Vanderbilt Co.)1.0 g Flavoring 0.035 ml Colorings 0.5 mg Distilled water q.s. to 100 ml

The ingredients are mixed to form a suspension for oral administration.

Parenteral Formulation

Ingredient % wt./wt. Active ingredient 0.25 g Sodium Chloride qs to makeisotonic Water for injection 100 ml

The active ingredient is dissolved in a portion of the water forinjection. A sufficient quantity of sodium chloride is then added withstirring to make the solution isotonic. The solution is made up toweight with the remainder of the water for injection, filtered through a0.2 micron membrane filter and packaged under sterile conditions.

Suppository Formulation

Ingredient % wt./wt. Active ingredient 1.0% Polyethylene glycol 100074.5% Polyethylene glycol 4000 24.5%

The ingredients are melted together and mixed on a steam bath, andpoured into molds containing 2.5 g total weight.

Topical Formulation

Ingredients Grams Active compound 0.2-2 Span 60 2 Tween 60 2 Mineral oil5 Petrolatum 10 Methyl paraben 0.15 Propyl paraben 0.05 BHA (butylatedhydroxy anisole) 0.01 Water q.s. 100

All of the ingredients, except water, are combined and heated to about60° C. with stirring. A sufficient quantity of water at about 60° C. isthen added with vigorous stirring to emulsify the ingredients, and waterthen added q.s. about 100 g.

Nasal Spray Formulations

Several aqueous suspensions containing from about 0.025-0.5 percentactive compound are prepared as nasal spray formulations. Theformulations optionally contain inactive ingredients such as, forexample, microcrystalline cellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose,dextrose, and the like. Hydrochloric acid may be added to adjust pH. Thenasal spray formulations may be delivered via a nasal spray metered pumptypically delivering about 50-100 microliters of formulation peractuation. A typical dosing schedule is 2-4 sprays every 4-12 hours.

Example 10 P2X₃/P2X_(2/3) FLIPR (Fluorometric Imaging Plate Reader)Assay

CHO-K1 cells were transfected with cloned rat P2X₃ or human P2X_(2/3)receptor subunits and passaged in flasks. 18-24 hours before the FLIPRexperiment, cells were released from their flasks, centrifuged, andresuspended in nutrient medium at 2.5×10⁵ cells/ml. The cells werealiquoted into black-walled 96-well plates at a density of 50,000cells/well and incubated overnight in 5% CO₂ at 37° C. On the day of theexperiment, cells were washed in FLIPR buffer (calcium- andmagnesium-free Hank's balanced salt solution, 10 mM HEPES, 2 mM CaCl₂,2.5 mM probenecid; FB). Each well received 100 μl FB and 100 μl of thefluorescent dye Fluo-3 AM [2 μM final conc.]. After a 1 hour dye loadingincubation at 37° C., the cells were washed 4 times with FB, and a final75 μl/well FB was left in each well.

Test compounds (dissolved in DMSO at 10 mM and serially diluted with FB)or vehicle were added to each well (25 μl of a 4× solution) and allowedto equilibrate for 20 minutes at room temperature. The plates were thenplaced in the FLIPR and a baseline fluorescence measurement (excitationat 488 nm and emission at 510-570 nm) was obtained for 10 seconds beforea 100 μl/well agonist or vehicle addition. The agonist was a 2× solutionof α,β-meATP producing a final concentration of 1 μM (P2X₃) or 5 μM(P2X_(2/3)). Fluorescence was measured for an additional 2 minutes at 1second intervals after agonist addition. A final addition of ionomycin(5 μM, final concentration) was made to each well of the FLIPR testplate to establish cell viability and maximum fluorescence of dye-boundcytosolic calcium. Peak fluorescence in response to the addition ofα,β-meATP (in the absence and presence of test compounds) was measuredand inhibition curves generated using nonlinear regression. PPADS, astandard P2X antagonist, was used as a positive control.

Using the above procedure, compounds of the invention exhibited activityfor the P2X₃ receptor. The compound2′-fluoro-5-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid ((S)-2-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-amide for example, exhibited a pIC₅₀of approximately 8.77 for the P2X₃ receptor, and the compound2′-fluoro-5-(5-isopropyl-[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl)-4′-methyl-biphenyl-3-carboxylicacid (1-pyrazin-2-yl-ethyl)-amide showed a pKi of approximately 7.64 forthe P2X_(2/3) receptor, using the above assay.

Example 11 In vivo Assay for Asthma and Lung Function

BALb/cJ mice are immunized with a standard immunization protocol.Briefly, mice (N=8/group) are immunized i.p. with ovalbumin (OVA; 10 μg)in alum on days 0 and 14. Mice are then challenged with aerosolized OVA(5%) on day 21 and 22. Animals receive vehicle (p.o.) or a compound ofthe invention (100 mg/kg p.o.) all starting on day 20.

Lung function is evaluated on day 23 using the Buxco system to measurePenH in response to an aerosol methacholine challenge. Mice are theneuthanized and plasma samples collected at the end of the study.

Example 12 Volume Induced Bladder Contraction Assay

Female Sprague-Dawley rats (200-300 g) were anesthetized with urethane(1.5 g/kg, sc). The animals were tracheotomized, and a carotid arteryand femoral vein were cannulated for blood pressure measurement and drugadministration, respectively. A laparotomy was performed and the ureterswere ligated and transected proximal to the ligation. The externalurethral meatus was ligated with silk suture and the urinary bladder wascannulated via the dome for saline infusion and bladder pressuremeasurement.

Following a 15-30 minute stabilization period the bladder was infusedwith room temperature saline at 100 μl/min until continuousvolume-induced bladder contractions (VIBCs) were observed. The infusionrate was then lowered to 3-5 μl/min for 30 minutes before the bladderwas drained and allowed to rest for 30 minutes. All subsequent infusionswere performed as indicated except the lower infusion rate wasmaintained for only 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes. Bladder fillingand draining cycles were repeated until the threshold volumes (TV; thevolume needed to trigger the first micturition bladder contraction)varied by less than 10% for two consecutive baselines and contractionfrequency was within 2 contractions for a 10 minute period following theslower infusion rate. Once reproducible TVs and VIBCs were establishedthe bladder was drained and the animal was dosed with drug or vehicle(0.5 ml/kg, i.v.) 3 minutes prior to the start of the next scheduledinfusion.

Example 13 Formalin Pain Assay

Male Sprague Dawley rats (180-220 g) are placed in individual Plexiglascylinders and allowed to acclimate to the testing environment for 30min. Vehicle, drug or positive control (morphine 2 mg/kg) isadministered subcutaneously at 5 ml/kg. 15 min post dosing, formalin (5%in 50, μl) is injected into plantar surface of the right hind paw usinga 26-gauge needle. Rats are immediately put back to the observationchamber. Mirrors placed around the chamber allow unhindered observationof the formalin-injected paw. The duration of nociphensive behavior ofeach animal is recorded by a blinded observer using an automatedbehavioral timer. Hindpaw licking and shaking/lifting are recordedseparately in 5 min bin, for a total of 60 min. The sum of time spentlicking or shaking in seconds from time 0 to 5 min is considered theearly phase, whereas the late phase is taken as the sum of seconds spentlicking or shaking from 15 to 40 min. A plasma sample is collected.

Example 14 Colon Pain Assay

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (350-425 g; Harlan, Indianapolis, Ind.)are housed 1-2 per cage in an animal care facility. Rats are deeplyanesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (45 mg/kg) administeredintraperitoneally. Electrodes are placed and secured into the externaloblique musculature for electromyographic (EMG) recording. Electrodeleads are tunneled subcutaneously and exteriorized at the nape of theneck for future access. After surgery, rats are housed separately andallowed to recuperate for 4-5 days prior to testing.

The descending colon and rectum are distended by pressure-controlledinflation of a 7-8 cm-long flexible latex balloon tied around a flexibletube. The balloon is lubricated, inserted into the colon via the anus,and anchored by taping the balloon catheter to the base of the tail.Colorectal distension (CRD) is achieved by opening a solenoid gate to aconstant pressure air reservoir. Intracolonic pressure is controlled andcontinuously monitored by a pressure control device. Response isquantified as the visceromotor response (VMR), a contraction of theabdominal and hindlimb musculature. EMG activity produced by contractionof the external oblique musculature is quantified using Spike2 software(Cambridge Electronic Design). Each distension trial lasts 60 sec, andEMG activity is quantified for 20 sec before distension (baseline),during 20 sec distension, and 20 sec after distention. The increase intotal number of recorded counts during distension above baseline isdefined as the response. Stable baseline responses to CRD (10, 20, 40and 80 mmHg, 20 seconds, 4 minutes apart) are obtained in conscious,unsedated rats before any treatment.

Compounds are evaluated for effects on responses to colon distensioninitially in a model of acute visceral nociception and a model of colonhypersensitivity produced by intracolonic treatment with zymosan (1 mL,25 mg/mL) instilled into the colon with a gavage needle inserted to adepth of about 6 cm. Experimental groups will consist of 8 rats each.

Acute visceral nociception: For testing effects of drug on acutevisceral nociception, 1 of 3 doses of drug, vehicle or positive control(morphine, 2.5 mg/kg) are administered after baseline responses areestablished; responses to distension are followed over the next 60-90minutes.

Visceral hypersensitivity: For testing effects of drug or vehicle afterintracolonic treatment with zymosan, intracolonic treatment is givenafter baseline responses are established. Prior to drug testing at 4hours, responses to distension are assessed to establish the presence ofhypersensitivity. In zymosan-treated rats, administration of 1 of 3doses of drug, vehicle or positive control (morphine, 2.5 mg/kg) aregiven 4 hours after zymosan treatment and responses to distensionfollowed over the next 60-90 minutes.

Example 15 Cold Allodynia in Rats with a Chronic Constriction Injury ofthe Sciatic Nerve

The effects of compounds of this invention on cold allodynia aredetermined using the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model ofneuropathic pain in rats, where cold allodynia is measured in acold-water bath with a metal-plate floor and water at a depth of 1.5-2.0cm and a temperature of 3-4° C. (Gogas, K. R. et al., Analgesia, 1997,3, 1-8).

Specifically, CCI, rats are anesthetized; the trifurcation of thesciatic nerve is located and 4 ligatures (4-0, or 5-0 chromic gut) areplaced circumferentially around the sciatic nerve proximal to thetrifurcation. The rats are then allowed to recover from the surgery. Ondays 4-7 after surgery, the rats are initially assessed for cold-inducedallodynia by individually placing the animals in the cold-water bath andrecording the total lifts of the injured paw during a 1-min period oftime: The injured paw is lifted out of the water. Paw lifts associatedwith locomotion or body repositioning are not recorded. Rats thatdisplayed 5 lifts per min or more on day 4-7 following surgery areconsidered to exhibit cold allodynia and are used in subsequent studies.In the acute studies, vehicle, reference compound or compounds of thisinvention are administered subcutaneously (s.c.) 30 min before testing.The effects of repeated administration of the compounds of thisinvention on cold allodynia are determined 14, 20 or 38 h following thelast oral dose of the following regimen: oral (p.o.) administration ofvehicle, reference or a compound of this invention at ˜12 h intervals(BID) for 7 days.

Example 16 Cancer Bone Pain in C3H/HeJ Mice

The effects of compounds of this invention on bone pain are determinedbetween Day 7 to Day 18 following intramedullary injection of 2472sarcoma cells into the distal femur of C3H/HeJ mice.

Specifically, NCTC 2472 tumor cells (American Type Culture Collection,ATCC), previously shown to form lytic lesions in bone afterintramedullary injection, are grown and maintained according to ATCCrecommendations. Approximately 10⁵ cells are injected directly into themedullary cavity of the distal femur in anesthetized C3H/HeJ mice.Beginning on about Day 7, the mice are assessed for spontaneousnocifensive behaviors (flinching & guarding), palpation-evokednocifensive behaviors (flinching & guarding), forced ambultory guardingand limb use. The effects of compounds of this invention are determinedfollowing a single acute (s.c.) administration on Day 7-Day 15. Inaddition, the effects of repeated (BID) administration of compounds ofthis invention from Day 7-Day 15 are determined within 1 hour of thefirst dose on Days 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15.

While the present invention has been described with reference to thespecific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may besubstituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of theinvention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation, material, composition of matter, process, processstep or steps, to the objective spirit and scope of the presentinvention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

1-30. (canceled)
 31. A compound of formula I:

or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: R¹ is[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl substituted once with C₁₋₆ alkyl, halo-C₁₋₆ alkyl,hetero-C₁₋₆alkyl, C₃₋₆-cycloalkyl, C₃₋₆cycloalkyl-C₁₋₆alkyl or cyano; R²is phenyl substituted once or twice with halo or methyl, or pyridin-2-ylsubstituted with methyl or halo at the 5-position; R³ is: hydrogen; C₁₋₆alkyl; hetero-C₁₋₆ alkyl; or cyano; R⁴ is: hydrogen; C₁₋₆ alkyl; orhetero-C₁₋₆ alkyl; or R³ and R⁴ together with the atom to which they areattached may form a C₃₋₆ carbocyclic ring; R⁵ is: C₁₋₆ alkyloxy-C₁₋₆alkyl; hydroxy-C₁₋₆ alkyl; heterocyclyl-C₁₋₆ alkyl; or hetero arylselected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrazolylor thiazolyl, wherein each of said heteroaryl is substituted once ortwice with a group or groups independently selected from methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, fluoro, chloro, amino, methylamino or dimethylamino; or R⁴ andR⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached may form a C₃₋₆carbocyclic ring that is optionally substituted with hydroxy; or R⁴ andR⁵ together with the atom to which they are attached may form a C₄₋₆heterocyclic ring containing one or two heteroatoms each independentlyselected from O, N and S; or R³, R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom towhich they are attached may form a six-membered heteroaryl containingone or two nitrogen atoms, and which is optionally substituted withhalo, amino or C₁₋₆alkyl; R⁶ is: hydrogen; C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxy;halo; C₁₋₆haloalkyl; or cyano; and one or both of R⁷ and R⁸ is:hydrogen; C₁₋₆alkyl; C₁₋₆alkyloxy; halo; C₁₋₆haloalkyl; or cyano. 32.The compound of claim 1, wherein R² is phenyl substituted once or twicewith halo or methyl.
 33. The compound of claim 31, wherein, R² is4-methyl-phenyl, 2-fluoro-4-methyl-phenyl, 2-chloro-4-fluoro-phenyl,4-chloro-2-fluoro-phenyl, 2,4-dichloro-phenyl, 2,4-difluoro-phenyl, or2-chloro-4-methyl-phenyl.
 34. The compound of claim 31, wherein, R² ispyridin-2-yl substituted with methyl or halo at the 5-position.
 35. Thecompound of claim 31, wherein, R² is 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl,5-chloro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl,5-methyl-3-fluoro-pyridin-2-yl, 5-methyl-3-chloro-pyridin-2-yl,3,5-difluoro-pyridin-2-yl or 3,5-dichloro-pyridin-2-yl.
 36. The compoundof claim 31, wherein R⁶ is hydrogen.
 37. The compound of claim 31,wherein R⁷ and R⁸ are hydrogen.
 38. The compound of claim 31, wherein R³is hydrogen.
 39. The compound of claim 38, wherein R⁴ is hydrogen ormethyl.
 40. The compound of claim 31, wherein R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-ylsubstituted at the 5-position with C₁₋₆alkyl or halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.
 41. Thecompound of claim 31, wherein R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl substituted atthe 5-position with methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, n-butyl, isopropyl,isobutyl, tert-butyl, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopropylmethyl,phenyl, trifluoromethyl, difluoromethyl, fluoromethyl,pentafluoro-ethyl, 1,1-difluoro-ethyl, 2,2-difluoroethyl,1-methoxy-ethyl, 1-ethoxy-ethyl, 2-methoxy-1-methyl-ethyl,1-hydroxy-ethyl, isopropoxy, 1-methyl-azetidin-2-yl,1-dimethylamino-ethyl or dimethylamino-methyl.
 42. The compound of claim31, wherein R⁴ and R⁵ together with the atom to which they are attachedform a cyclopropyl group.
 43. The compound of claim 31, wherein R⁵ is:hydroxymethyl; methoxymethyl; morpholin-4-ylmethyl; piperidin-1-ylmethyl substituted at the 4-position with methyl, methanesulfonyl oracetyl; 1,1,-dioxo-thiomorpholin-1-yl; piperidin-1-yl substituted onceor twice with a group or groups selected independently from methyl,methoxy or halo; pyridinyl; pyrimidinyl; pyrazinyl; pyridazinyl;pyrazolyl; or thiazolyl; wherein the pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl,pyridazinyl, pyrazolyl and thiazolyl each is substituted once or twicewith a group or groups selected independently from methyl, methylamino,dimethylamino and halo.
 44. The compound of claim 31, wherein R⁵ isheteroaryl selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyrazinyl, pyridazinyl,pyrazolyl or thiazolyl, each substituted once or twice with a group orgroups independently selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, fluoro,chloro, amino, methylamino or dimethylamino.
 45. The compound of claim31, wherein R⁵ is heteroaryl selected from pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, orpyrazinyl, each substituted once or twice with a group or groupsindependently selected from methyl, fluoro, chloro, amino, methylaminoor dimethylamino.
 46. The compound of claim 31, wherein R⁵ is:hydroxymethyl.
 47. A compound of formula of formula I:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, wherein: R¹ is[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl substituted at the 5-position with C₁₋₆alkyl orhalo-C₁₋₆alkyl; R² is 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl; R³ is hydrogen; R⁴ ishydrogen; R⁵ is pyridinyl, pyrimidinyl, or pyrazinyl, each substitutedonce or twice with a group or groups independently selected from methyl,fluoro, chloro, amino, methylamino or dimethylamino; and R⁶, R⁷ and R⁸are hydrogen.
 48. The compound of claim 47, wherein R¹ is[1,2,4]triazol-1-yl substituted at the 5-position with halo-C₁₋₆alkyl.49. The compound of claim 47, wherein R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-ylsubstituted at the 5-position with C₁₋₆alkyl.
 50. The compound of claim47, wherein R¹ is [1,2,4]triazol-1-yl substituted at the 5-position withtrifluoromethyl.
 51. The compound of claim 48, wherein R⁵ is pyridinyl,pyrimidinyl, or pyrazinyl, each substituted once with methyl.
 52. Thecompound of claim 48, wherein R⁵ is pyridinyl substituted once withmethyl.
 53. The compound of claim 48, wherein R⁵ is pyrimidinylsubstituted once with methyl.
 54. The compound of claim 48, wherein R⁵is pyridazinyl substituted once with methyl.
 55. The compound of claim48, wherein R⁵ is 5-methyl-pyrimidin-2-yl.
 56. The compound of claim 48,wherein R⁵ is 2-methyl-pyrimidin-5-yl.
 57. The compound of claim 48,wherein R⁵ is 5-methyl-pyridin-2-yl.
 58. The compound of claim 48,wherein R⁵ is 6-methyl-pyridazin-3-yl.
 59. A pharmaceutical compositioncomprising: (a) a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and (b) acompound of claim
 31. 60. A method for treating a pain conditionselected from inflammatory pain, surgical pain, visceral pain, dentalpain, premenstrual pain, central pain, pain due to burns, migraine orcluster headaches, nerve injury, neuritis, neuralgias, poisoning,ischemic injury, interstitial cystitis, cancer pain, viral, parasitic orbacterial infection, post-traumatic injury, or pain associated withirritable bowel syndrome, said method comprising administering to asubject in need thereof an effective amount of a compound of claim 31.61. A method for treating a respiratory disorder selected from chronicobstructive pulmonary disorder, asthma, and bronchospasm, said methodcomprising administering to a subject in need thereof an effectiveamount of a compound of claim 31.